Combining Capacitors in Series & Parallel Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: Describe the effective capacitance when capacitors are connected in series and in parallel.Match the words (a, b, or c) to the appropriate blanks.(1) When capacitors are connected in series, the effective capacitance is ___________ the smallest capacitance.(2) When capacitors are connected in parallel, the effective capacitance is ____________ the largest capacitance.(a) less than(b) equal to(c) greater than

###### FREE Expert Solution

For capacitors in series, the equivalent capacitance is:

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

For capacitors in parallel, the equivalent capacitance is:

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

(1)

Suppose three capacitors are connected in series, then:

1/Cseries = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3

###### Problem Details

Describe the effective capacitance when capacitors are connected in series and in parallel.

Match the words (a, b, or c) to the appropriate blanks.

(1) When capacitors are connected in series, the effective capacitance is ___________ the smallest capacitance.

(2) When capacitors are connected in parallel, the effective capacitance is ____________ the largest capacitance.

(a) less than
(b) equal to
(c) greater than