Download Capacitors in Series & Parallel

Capacitors in Series & Parallel
• Networks of capacitors connected in
parallel
• Networks of capacitors connected in
series
• Series-Parallel Capacitor Networks
Capacitors in Parallel
I
V I1 V I 2
V
I3
V
• From Kirchhoff’s Current Law: I  I1  I 2  I 3  ....
Q
• BY def: I 
t
Qeq
Q1 Q2 Q3
Therefore,



 ..... or
t t t t
Qeq  Q1  Q2  Q3  .... but Q  C  V
• Therefore: Ceq  V  C1  V  C2  V  C3  V or
Ceq  C1  C2  C3
Capacitors in Series
I
V
V1
V3
V2
Q
• I  t is the same everywhere in the circuit, therefore Q
is the same in each capacitor
• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law states: V  V1  V2  V3
Q
Q
Q Q Q
but V  , 
 

or
C
Ceq C1 C2 C3
1
1
1
1



Ceq C1 C2 C3
Series & Parallel Capacitor
Networks
• Start from the load side and find the equivalent capacitor
combination, as you work toward the source, until you
have obtained one Ceq