Three capacitors are connected to a battery as shown in the figure below. Their

Question

Three capacitors are connected to a battery as shown in the figure below. Their capacitances are C.-3C, C2-C, and C3-SC, C1 Cz Cs (a) What is the equivalent capacitance of this set of capacitors (in terms of C)? (b) State the ranking of the capacitors according to the charge they store, from largest to smallest. > Q > Q (c) Rank the capacitors according to the potential differences across them, from largest to smallest. (d) Assume C3 is increased. Explain what happens to the charge stored by each capacitor Q3 and Q1 increases; 02 decreases. 03, Q1 and 02 increases.

Explanation / Answer

a)

C2 and C3 are in parallel

C23 = C+5C =6C

C1 and C23 are in series ,the equivalent capacitance is

1/Ceq =1/3C +1/6C

Ceq=2C

b)

Let Charge flowing through each capacitor is

Q1=Q

Q2=Q*(C/C+5C) =Q/6

Q3 =Q*(5C/C+5C) =(5/6)Q

Therefore

Q1>Q3>Q2

c)

Potential difference across each capacitor is

V1=V*(6C/3C+6C) =(2/3)V

V2=V3=V-(2/3)V =(1/3)V

Therefore

V1>V2=V3

d)

Q3 and Q1 increase ;Q2 decreases

If C3 is increased =>equivalent capacitance increases =>Charge Q increases=>V1 increases ,V2 decreases as Q2 decreases Then Q3 increases.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.