So the formula for capacitance (being $C=\frac{A\,\epsilon_{0}\,\epsilon_{r}}{d}$) shows that the capacitance of a capacitor depends on the surface area of the capacitor plates.
As I understand it, this is because if the plates are larger, then for a given potential difference between the plates more electrons can be pushed onto the negative plate by the cell.
My question is, then by the same (and I am guessing flawed) logic, why does the thickness of the plates not affect the capacitance of the capacitor?
Or, put another way, why is the formula for capacitance not $C=\frac{v\,\epsilon_{0}\,\epsilon_{r}}{d}$, with $v$ being the volume of the capacitor plates?
Many thanks.
Best Answer
The fundamental thing about a capacitor is that it stores energy in the electric field.
In a parallel plate capacitor with metallic plates, the electric field is strongest (and thus most of the energy is stored) in the space between the plates. The electric field within the plates is (very near to) 0. So it makes sense that the geometry and composition of the gap between the plates is much more important to determining the capacitance than the geometry of the plates.
There is such a thing as a coplanar capacitor, where the dimension that's analogous to the plate thickness in the parallel plate capacitor has a strong effect on the capacitance:
(image source)