Combining Capacitors

Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 18 of 51.

In parallel: the same voltage, the charges add:

C = C₁ + C₂

Capacitors in parallel

In series: the same charge, the voltages add:

1/C = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂

Capacitors in series

A charged capacitor joined to an uncharged one shares its charge until both have the same voltage: V = Q / (C₁ + C₂).

Challenge

A 3 μF and a 6 μF capacitor are connected in series to a 12 V battery. How much charge Q does each carry, in microcoulombs?

Try it yourself

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Electricity and Magnetism

1Electric Charge and Force

4Charged Conductors

7Real Batteries

10Magnetic Fields

2The Electric Field

5Capacitors

8Kirchhoff's Laws

11Magnetic Forces

3Energy and Potential

6Current and Resistance

9Capacitors in Circuits

12Induction