Given:
Capacitance (C) = 8.85 nF = 8.85 x 10^-9 F
Plate separation (d) = 1 cm = 0.01 m
Permittivity of free space (ε₀) = 8.85 x 10^-12 C^2/N m^2
The formula for the area (A) of the plates of the capacitor is:
A = (C * d) / ε₀
Plugging in the values:
A = (8.85 x 10^-9 F * 0.01 m) / 8.85 x 10^-12 C^2/N m^2
A = (8.85 x 10^-11) / 8.85 x 10^-12
A = 8.85 / 0.00885
A = 1000 m^2
Therefore, the area of the plates of the capacitor is 1000 square meters.