Chapter 12

Capacitor Circuits
 Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
• Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a
number of capacitors connected in series
or in parallel.
• Determine the charge and voltage across
any chosen capacitor in a network when
given capacitances and the externally
applied potential difference.
 Electrical Circuit Symbols
Electrical circuits often contain two or
more capacitors grouped together and
attached to an energy source, such as a
battery.
The following symbols are often used:

Ground Battery Capacitor

+ -

+ -
+ - + -
- + - + - + -
 Series Circuits
Capacitors or other devices connected
along a single path are said to be
connected in series. See circuit below:

Series connection
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ - of capacitors.
C1 C3 “+ to – to + …”
C2
Battery Charge inside
dots is induced.
Charge on Capacitors in Series

Since inside charge is only induced, the

charge on each capacitor is the same.

Q1 Q2 Q3
Charge is same:
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ - series connection
C1 C3 of capacitors.
C2
Battery
Q = Q1 = Q2 =Q3
Voltage on Capacitors in Series
Since the potential difference between
points A and B is independent of path, the
battery voltage V must equal the sum of
the voltages across each capacitor.

V1 V2 V3
Total voltage V
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ - Series connection
C1 C3 Sum of voltages
C2
•A B
•
Battery
V = V1 + V2 + V3
Equivalent Capacitance: Series

V1 V2 V3 Q
C ; V 
Q
+ - + -+ - V C
+ - + -+ -
C1 C2 C3 V = V1 + V2 + V3
Q1= Q2 = Q3 Q Q1 Q2 Q3
  
C C1 C2 C3

1 1 1 1 Equivalent Ce 1 n
1
   for capacitors 
Ce C1 C2 C3 Ce i 1 Ci
in series:
 Example 1. Find the equivalent capacitance
of the three capacitors connected in series
with a 24-V battery.

Ce for 1 n
1 C1 C2 C3
 + - + -+ -
series: Ce i 1 Ci + - + -+ -
2 mF 4 mF 6 mF
1 1 1 1
  
Ce 2m F 4m F 6m F 24 V
1
 0.500  0.250  0.167
Ce
1 1
 0.917 or Ce  Ce = 1.09 mF
Ce 0.917
Example 1 (Cont.): The equivalent circuit can
be shown as follows with single Ce.

C1 C2 C3 1 n
1 Ce
+ - + -+ - 
+ - + -+ - Ce i 1 Ci
2 mF 4 mF 6 mF 1.09 mF

24 V
Ce = 1.09 mF 24 V

Note that the equivalent capacitance Ce

for capacitors in series is always less than
the least in the circuit. (1.09 mF < 2 mF)
Example 1 (Cont.): What is the total
charge and the charge on each capacitor?

C1 C2 C3 Ce Ce = 1.09 mF
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ -
2 mF 4 mF 6 mF 1.09 mF Q
C
24 V V
24 V Q  CV

QT = CeV = (1.09 mF)(24 V); QT = 26.2 mC

For series circuits:

Q1 = Q2 = Q3 = 26.2 mC
QT = Q1 = Q2 = Q3
Example 1 (Cont.): What is the voltage across
each capacitor?

Q Q
C ; V  C1 C2 C3
V C + - + -+ -
Q1 26.2 m C + - + -+ -
V1    13.1 V 2 mF 4 mF 6 mF
C1 2 mF
24 V
Q2 26.2 m C
V2    6.55 V
C2 4 mF
Q3 26.2 m C
V3    4.37 V VT = 24 V
C3 6 mF

Note: VT = 13.1 V + 6.55 V + 4.37 V = 24.0 V

Short Cut: Two Series Capacitors
The equivalent capacitance Ce for two series
capacitors is the product divided by the sum.

1 1 1 C1C2
  ; Ce 
Ce C1 C2 C1  C2

Example: (3 m F)(6 m F)
Ce 
C1 C2 3 m F  6m F
+ - + -
+ - + -
3 mF 6 mF Ce = 2 mF
 Parallel Circuits
Capacitors which are all connected to the
same source of potential are said to be
connected in parallel. See below:

Parallel capacitors: Voltages:

“+ to +; - to -” VT = V1 = V2 = V3
C1 C2 C3
+
+

+
+

+
+

Charges:
- - - - - -
QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
 Equivalent Capacitance: Parallel

Parallel capacitors Q
C  ; Q  CV
in Parallel: V
C1 C2
+
+ C3 Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
+
+

+
+
- - - - - - Equal Voltages:
CV = C1V1 + C2V2 + C3V3

Equivalent Ce n
Ce = C1 + C2 + C3 for capacitors Ce   Ci
in parallel: i 1
 Example 2. Find the equivalent capacitance
of the three capacitors connected in parallel
with a 24-V battery.

n VT = V1 = V2 = V3
Ce for Ce   Ci Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
parallel: i 1
24 V C1 C2 C3
Ce = (2 + 4 + 6) mF
2 mF 4 mF 6 mF
Ce = 12 mF

Note that the equivalent capacitance Ce for

capacitors in parallel is always greater than
the largest in the circuit. (12 mF > 6 mF)
 Example 2 (Cont.) Find the total charge QT
and charge across each capacitor.

Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 Ce = 12 mF

24 V C1 C2 C3
V1 = V2 = V3 = 24 V
2 mF 4 mF 6 mF Q
C  ; Q  CV
V
QT = CeV Q1 = (2 mF)(24 V) = 48 mC
QT = (12 mF)(24 V) Q1 = (4 mF)(24 V) = 96 mC
QT = 288 mC Q1 = (6 mF)(24 V) = 144 mC
Example 3. Find the equivalent capacitance
of the circuit drawn below.

(3m F)(6m F)
C3,6   2m F
24 V C1 3m F  6m F
C2 3 mF
Ce = 4 mF + 2 mF
4 mF C3 6 mF
Ce = 6 mF

24 V C1 24 V
C3,6 2 mF Ce 6 mF
4 mF
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the total charge QT.

Ce = 6 mF
24 V C1 C2 3 mF
Q = CV = (6 mF)(24 V)
4 mF C3 6 mF
QT = 144 mC

24 V C1 24 V
C3,6 2 mF Ce 6 mF
4 mF
 Example 3 (Cont.) Find the charge Q4 and
voltage V4 across the the 4-mF capacitor.

V4 = VT = 24 V
24 V C1 C2 3 mF
Q4 = (4 mF)(24 V)
4 mF C3 6 mF
Q4 = 96 mC

The remainder of the charge: (144 mC – 96 mC)

is on EACH of the other capacitors. (Series)
This can also be found from
Q3 = Q6 = 48 mC Q = C3,6V3,6 = (2 mF)(24 V)
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the voltages across
the 3 and 6-mF capacitors.
Q3 = Q6 = 48 mC
48m C
24 V C1 C2 3 mF V3   16.0V
3m F
4 mF C3 6 mF 48m C
V6   8.00V
6m F

Note: V3 + V6 = 16.0 V + 8.00 V = 24 V

Use these techniques to find voltage and

capacitance across each capacitor in a circuit.
Summary: Series Circuits

n Q = Q1 = Q2 = Q3
1 1

Ce i 1 Ci V = V1 + V2 + V3

For two capacitors at a time:

C1C2
Ce 
C1  C2
 Summary: Parallel Circuits

n Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
Ce   Ci
i 1 V = V1 = V2 =V3

For complex circuits, reduce the circuit in steps

using the rules for both series and parallel
connections until you are able to solve problem.
 Capacitor-Resistor Comparison
V = IR V = Q (1/C)
Resistors Capacitors
Series Parallel Series Parallel
Currents same add Charges same add
Voltages add same Voltages add same

Series: Req =  Ri Series:

1
= 
1
Ceq Ci
Parallel:
1
Req
=  1
Ri Parallel: Ceq =  Ci
“Resistors in Series “Parallel Capacitors are
are Really Simple.” a Piece of Cake.”
The formulae for series are parallel are reversed simply because
in the defining equations at the top, R is replaced with 1/C.