Touching the negative terminal of a capacitor may lead to electron flow into the human body, potentially draining the capacitor. Increasing the area of the capacitor plates while maintaining the same potential can influence the rate of electron flow to a person. Current flow is determined by factors such as voltage, resistance, and the physical characteristics of the conductor. Larger plate areas can increase current flow due to reduced resistance and enhanced charge storage. Understanding these principles is crucial for safe handling of capacitors.