Simulation · Physics · Class 12

Capacitors in series and in parallel

From the lesson Combination of capacitors in Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance. Change the values and watch what happens.

The idea behind it

NCERT §2.14

Series: capacitors joined end to end. Every capacitor carries the same charge Q, because the joined inner plates are an isolated conductor with zero net charge.
In series the voltages add: V = Q/C₁ + Q/C₂ + …, so 1/C = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ + … + 1/Cₙ.
The series combination is smaller than the smallest capacitor in it, and the smallest capacitor takes the largest share of the voltage.
Parallel: all capacitors share the same potential difference V, and each takes its own charge Qᵢ = CᵢV.
In parallel the charges add, Q = Q₁ + Q₂ + …, so C = C₁ + C₂ + … + Cₙ.
Worked value: three 10 μF capacitors in series (10/3 μF) in parallel with a fourth 10 μF give 13.3 μF. On 500 V the series three each hold 1.7 × 10⁻³ C and the fourth holds 5.0 × 10⁻³ C.
The capacitor rules are the reverse of the resistor rules: series capacitors combine like parallel resistors.

1 more