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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\relax C = C_{1} + C_{2}

Capacitors in parallel

In series: the same charge, the voltages add:

1C=1C1+1C2\frac{1}{C} = \frac{1}{C_1} + \frac{1}{C_2}

Capacitors in series

A charged capacitor joined to an uncharged one shares its charge until both have the same voltage: V=QC1+C2V = \frac{Q}{C_1 + C_2}.

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Challenge

A 3 μF3\ \mathrm{\mu F} and a 6 μF6\ \mathrm{\mu F} capacitor are connected in series to a 12 V12\ \mathrm{V} battery. How much charge QQ does each carry, in microcoulombs?

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: circuit

Solve for QQ

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