What is the relationship between the voltage across a capacitor and the charge stored on its plates?

The relationship between the voltage across a capacitor and the charge stored on its plates is directly proportional. This means that as the charge on the capacitor increases, the voltage across its plates also increases, provided the properties of the capacitor (like its capacitance) remain constant.

This relationship can be described by the formula ( Q = C \cdot V ), where ( Q ) is the charge in coulombs, ( C ) is the capacitance in farads, and ( V ) is the voltage in volts. According to this equation, if the capacitance is held constant, an increase in charge results in a proportional increase in voltage. Hence, the direct proportionality reflects how changes in charge affect the voltage across the capacitor in a linear manner.

Other options suggest inverse relationships, independence, or equality, which do not accurately represent the fundamental behavior of capacitors according to basic electrical principles. Thus, the correct choice emphasizes the essential concept of capacitance and the linear relationship between charge and voltage in capacitive systems.