Energy Stored by Capacitor Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: You have two identical capacitors and an external potential source.Compare the total energy stored in the capacitors when they are connected to the applied potential in series and in parallel.U(parallel)/U(series) =?

###### FREE Expert Solution

Energy Stored in a capacitor:

$\overline{){\mathbf{U}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{C}}{{\mathbf{V}}}^{{\mathbf{2}}}}$

Equivalent capacitance in series:

$\overline{)\frac{\mathbf{1}}{{\mathbf{C}}_{\mathbf{e}\mathbf{q}}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{{\mathbf{C}}_{\mathbf{1}}}{\mathbf{+}}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{{\mathbf{C}}_{\mathbf{2}}}}$

Equivalent capacitance in parallel:

$\overline{){{\mathbf{C}}}_{\mathbf{e}\mathbf{q}}{\mathbf{=}}{{\mathbf{C}}}_{{\mathbf{1}}}{\mathbf{+}}{{\mathbf{C}}}_{{\mathbf{2}}}}$

Connecting two identical capacitors in series will halve the capacitance.

###### Problem Details

You have two identical capacitors and an external potential source.

Compare the total energy stored in the capacitors when they are connected to the applied potential in series and in parallel.
U(parallel)/U(series) =?

What scientific concept do you need to know in order to solve this problem?

Our tutors have indicated that to solve this problem you will need to apply the Energy Stored by Capacitor concept. You can view video lessons to learn Energy Stored by Capacitor. Or if you need more Energy Stored by Capacitor practice, you can also practice Energy Stored by Capacitor practice problems.