Which of the following factors will NOT increase capacitance?

Capacitance is fundamentally determined by the physical characteristics of a capacitor, which includes the area of the plates, the distance between them, and the material used as the dielectric. Increasing the plate area enhances capacitance because it allows more charge to be stored. Utilizing a material with a higher dielectric constant increases capacitance because it improves the capacitor's ability to store electrical energy within the dielectric medium. Likewise, decreasing the distance between the plates raises capacitance, as a shorter distance results in a stronger electric field and facilitates charge storage.

In contrast, reducing the size of the dielectric negatively impacts capacitance. A smaller dielectric material may lead to a decrease in the capacitance because, depending on its configuration, it might not adequately serve its role in separating and supporting the electric field between the plates, or it could imply a reduction in the effective area available for charge storage. Thus, option D is correct, as it does not contribute to increasing capacitance.