Combining Capacitors in Series & Parallel Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: You have two identical capacitors and an external potential source.Compare the maximum amount of charge stored in each case.Q(parallel)/Q(series) =?

###### FREE Expert Solution

Charge stored in a capacitor:

$\overline{){\mathbf{Q}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{C}}{\mathbf{V}}}$

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 half the capacitance.

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###### Problem Details

You have two identical capacitors and an external potential source.

Compare the maximum amount of charge stored in each case.
Q(parallel)/Q(series) =?