Final answer:
Three characteristics that affect a capacitor's ability to store a charge are capacitance, dielectric material, and surface area.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three characteristics that affect a capacitor's ability to store a charge are:
- Capacitance (C): This is a measure of how much charge a capacitor can store per unit of voltage. A higher capacitance value indicates a higher ability to store charge.
- Dielectric material: The material between the capacitor's plates affects its ability to store charge. Different dielectric materials have different dielectric constants, which determine the effectiveness of charge storage.
- Surface Area: The larger the surface area of the plates, the greater the ability of the capacitor to store charge. More surface area means more area for charge accumulation.