Question

Two capacitors, C1 and C2, are connected in series and a battery, providing a voltage V, is connected across the two capacitors. (a) Find the equivalent capacitance, the energy stored in this equivalent capacitance, and the energy stored in each capacitor. (b) Show that the sum of the energy stored in each capacitor is the same as the energy stored in the equivalent capacitor. Will this equality always be true, or does it depend on the number of capacitors and their capacitances? (c) If the same two capacitors were connected in parallel, what potential difference would be required across them so that the combination stores the same energy as in the system of part (a)? Express everything in terms of the given quantities, C1, C2, and V. (d) If C1 =18μF,C2 = 36μF,V =12V, evaluate the equivalent capacitance and energy stored in the serial case of part (a), the equivalent capacitance and voltage of the parallel circuit of part (c). (e) In both cases, which capacitor stores more energy, C1 or C2?

Answer 1