Capacitors in Series and
Parallel
January 20, 2017
Physics 3B and 3C
1/21/2017 1
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
Parallel Connection
a a
+
+Q1
Vab + Q2
+Q
Ceq
-Q
- -Q1 -Q2
b b
Parallel Connection
Vab is the same
Q = Q1 + Q 2
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
Example
b
a
Find Ceq if each capacitor has capacitance C
13
Example
C/2 2C 2C
C/2
C/2
1
Ceff C
2
14
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
15
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
16
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
17
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
18
What is the charge and potential
Exercise: on each capacitor if Vab=6V?
Vab=6V
19
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
