Homework Help: physics

Posted by Cal on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8:21am.

If three unequal capacitors, initially uncharged, are connected in series across a battery, which of the following statements is true?
1
The equivalent capacitance is greater than any of the individual capacitances. The capacitor with the smallest capacitance has the smallest charge. The largest voltage appears across the capacitor with the smallest capacitance. The capacitor with the largest capacitance has the greatest charge. The largest voltage appears across the capacitor with the largest capacitance.

Your answer is incorrect.

physics - drwls, Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8:34am
In a series capacitor configuration, each capacitor has the same charge. The voltage across the "ith" one is Vi = Q/Ci The smallest Ci has the largest voltage drop.

The equivalent capacitiance C of the series of capacitors is LESS than any individual one, since
1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3

The largest voltage appears across the capacitor with the smallest capacitance. That is the statement you should have chosen

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