Capacitors in Series and

Parallel

January 20, 2017

Physics 3B and 3C

1/21/2017 1
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Objectives:
Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a
network of capacitors connected in
series/parallel

Givencapacitors connected in series/parallel,

determine the total charge, the charge on,
and the potential difference across each
capacitor in the network
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Capacitor Networks
A capacitor network can be replaced by a
single capacitor with an equivalent or effective
capacitance

Series: 1 common point of connection

Parallel: 2 common points of connection

Combination of series and parallel

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Series Connection
a a
+ +Q +Q
Ceq
-Q -Q
- b
c
Series Connection
Vab= V +Q

-Q
Q is the same

b Vab = Vac + Vcb

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Series Connection
a
Q Q
+Q
Vac V1
C1
Vcb V2
C2
C1
-Q
1 1
V Vab V V1 V2 Q
c C1 C 2
+Q
C V 1 1
-Q 2

Q C1 C 2
b
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Series Connection
a a
+Q +Q
C1 Ceq
-Q -Q

V b
c
+Q 1 1 1
C
-Q 2
C eq C1 C 2
b
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Series Connection
1 1 1 1 Ceq is less than any of C1, C2, etc.

Ceq C1 C2 C3

Vtot V1 V2 V3 Sum of voltages

Q Q1 Q2 Q3 Equal charges
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Parallel Connection
a a
+
+Q1
Vab + Q2
+Q
Ceq
-Q
- -Q1 -Q2

b b
Parallel Connection

Vab is the same

Q = Q1 + Q 2
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Parallel Connection
+Q1 +
Q2 +Q
V C1 C2 Ceq
-Q
-Q1 -Q2

Q
Q1 C1V Q2 C2V C1 C 2
V
Q Q1 Q2 C1 C2 V Ceq C1 C2
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Parallel Connection

Ceq C1 C2 C3 Ceq is greater than any of

C1, C2, etc.

V V1 V2 V3 Equal voltages

Qtot Q1 Q2 Q3 Sum of charges

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Example
a 2 points of connection

If the capacitance of
each capacitor is 3F,
what is the equivalent
capacitance of the
network?
b
Parallel connection!

Ceff 3F 3F 3F 9F
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Example

b
a

Find Ceq if each capacitor has capacitance C

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Example
C/2 2C 2C

C/2

C/2

1
Ceff C
2
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Find , 1 , 2 , 1 , and 2
1 1 1

a b Ceff 4F 2F
1
1 2 4
Ceff F
C1=4F C2=2F
4F 3
What is the charge and potential on each
capacitor if Vab=9V?
4
Qeff Ceff Vab F 9V 12C
3

Series connection: Series connection:

Q1=Q2=Qeff=12C Vab=V1+V2
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Find , 1 , 2 , 1 , and 2
a b

C1=4F C2=2F
What is the charge and potential on each
capacitor if Vab=9V?
Q1 Q1 12 C
C1 = V1 = = =
V1 C1 4 F

Q2 Q2 12 C
C2 = V2 = = =
V2 V2 2 F
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Find , 1 , 2 , 1 , and 2
a What is the charge and
potential on each capacitor if
Vab=9V?
C1=4F C2=2F
Ceff 4F 2F 6F

Parallel connection: Parallel connection:

V1=V2=Vab=9V Qeff = Q1 + Q 2
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Find , 1 , 2 , 1 , and 2
a What is the charge and
potential on each capacitor if
Vab=9V?
C1=4F C2=2F Qeff Ceff Vab (6F )9V 54C

Qeff Q1 Q2 54C
b
Q1
C1 = Q1 C1V1 (4F )9V 36C
V1

Q2 Q2 C2V2 (2F )9V 18C

C2 =
V2
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What is the charge and potential

Exercise: on each capacitor if Vab=6V?

Vab=6V
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What is the charge and potential

Exercise: on each capacitor if Vab=6V?

Solution:
C1 = 2F, C2 = 4F, and C3 = 3F

Parallel:
C = C1 + C2 = 6F

Series:
1 1 1 1 1
= + = +
C C C3 6F 3F
1 3
= C = 2F
C 6F
 What is the charge and potential
Exercise: on each capacitor if Vab=6V?
Qeq = Ceq Veq
Qeq = 2F 6V = 12C

6F 3F Series connection:
Q1=Q2=Qeff
Q12 = Q3 =

Q12 Q12 12C

C12 = V12 = = =
V12 C12 6F
Q3 Q3 12C
C3 = V3 = = =
V3 C3 3F
 What is the charge and potential
Exercise: on each capacitor if Vab=6V?

Parallel connection:
V1 = V2 = Vab = 6V
6F 3F Q eff = Q1 + Q 2

Q1 = C1 V1 = 2F 2V = 4C
2F
Q2 = C2 V2 = 4F 2V = 8C

Qparallel = Q1 + Q2 = 12C

4F