---
title: "An air-filled parallel-plate capacitor is connected across an ideal battery that maintains a constant potential difference \\(V\\). While the capacitor remains connected to the battery, the plate area is doubled and the plate separation is halved. What is the ratio of the new stored electrostatic energy in the capacitor to the initial stored electrostatic energy?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121104/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:57:59+00:00"
---

# An air-filled parallel-plate capacitor is connected across an ideal battery that maintains a constant potential difference \(V\). While the capacitor remains connected to the battery, the plate area is doubled and the plate separation is halved. What is the ratio of the new stored electrostatic energy in the capacitor to the initial stored electrostatic energy?

An air-filled parallel-plate capacitor is connected across an ideal battery that maintains a constant potential difference \(V\). While the capacitor remains connected to the battery, the plate area is doubled and the plate separation is halved. What is the ratio of the new stored electrostatic energy in the capacitor to the initial stored electrostatic energy?

- **A.** \(\dfrac{1}{4}\)
- **B.** \(1\)
- **C.** \(2\)
- **D.** \(4\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121104/*