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ro12usa ro12usa
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11 years ago
Ok so we are given the capacitance and voltage of the entire circuit composed of only capacitors, the different capacitors are in series and parallel. So my question is, what are the rules/steps for solving to the capacitance, charge, and voltage across each capacitor in the circuit?
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11 years ago
combine parallel caps by adding them. combine series caps by the 1/C rule. When you get down to 1 capacitance, uses Q = CV to get the charge, Now work backwards to determine voltage and charge on each one. For two in series, the charge is the same on both, and voltage is V = Q/C. For two in parallel, the voltage is the same and the charge is Q = CV.

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wrote...
11 years ago
Since you are given total Voltage (V) and total Capacitance (C) of the circuit you can calculate the total charge(Q).
The formula Q = CV can be used in either of it`s three arrangements. It can be used across the whole circuit as well as any segment of the circuit that you know the value of any two of the three quantities within that segment.

To help you solve for V, Q and C of each individual Capacitor in this circuit remember the following:

Capacitors in parallel always have an equal amount of Voltage drop across them regardless of their capacitance value. That is V of C1 = V of C2 and so on.

Capacitors in series in a complete DC circuit like yours always contain equal amounts of charge regardless of their capacitance value.That is Q of C1 = Q of C2 and so on.

In a series circuit of capacitors only, the voltage drop across individual capacitors is inversely proportional to the capacitance value of that  capacitor. Of course the sum of the Voltage drops is equal to the source Voltage.

Consult the formulas for the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series or in parallel. Use these formulas to combine capacitors in instances where it is to your advantage to do so to solve a particular part of the problem.

On a copy of the schematic of the circuit write in all the knowns given plus the ones that you solve for as you go along. One solution will lead to another and very shortly you will have solved for the V,C and Q of each capacitor in the circuit.
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