1.

Two capacitors of capacitance C1 = 200 pF and C2 = 600 pF are connected in parallel and
then charged to a potential of 120 V. Determine the a) charge on each and the b)
equivalent capacitance C of the combination.

What is asked:
a) To find the charge or Q
b) To find the Capacitance or C
Given:

 C1 = 200 p
 C2 = 600
 Potential difference = 120 V

Rule in Parallel Circuits

 Ceq = C1 + C2 + … CN
 VT = VC1 = VC2
 QT = QC1 + QC1
Conversion
Milli = 103 therefore, 1 Farad = 1 x 10-3 milli-Farads or mF
Micro = 10-6 therefore, 1 Farad = 1 x 10-6 micro-Farads or µF
Nano = 10-9 therefore, 1 Farad = 1 x 10-9 nano-Farads or nF
Pico = 10-12 therefore, 1 Farad = 1 x 10-12 pico-Farads or pF

a) Q1 = VC
= 120 V 200 pF x 1x10-12 Farad
1pF

=120 V 200 pF x 1x10-12 Farad

1 pF

= 120 x (200 x 1 x 10-12)

Q1 = 2.4 x 10-8 Coloumbs

Q2 = VC
= 120 V 600 pF x 1x10-12 Farad
1pF

=120 V 600 pF x 1x10-12 Farad

1pF

= 120 x (600 x 1x10-12)

Q1 = 7.2 x 10-8 Coloumbs
b. Ceq = C1 + C2
Ceq = 200 pF + 600pF
Ceq = 800 pF or 8 x10-10 F

Conversion: a. 1 pF = 1x10-12F
b. 800pF x 8 x 10-12
1 pF
c. 800 pF x 8 x 10-12
1 pF
d. 8 x 10-10

2. Two capacitors of capacitance C1 = 3pF and C2 = 6pF are connected in series and the
resulting combination is connected across 1000V. Compute a) the equivalent
capacitance C of the combination b) the total charge on the combination and the
charge taken by each capacitor (c) the potential difference across each capacitor (d) the
energy stored in the capacitor.

What is asked:
a) To find the equivalent Capacitance or Ceq
b) To find the Total Charge or QT
c) To find the potential difference or V across each capacitor
d) The energy stored in the capacitor or the
Given:

 C1 = 3pF
 C2 = 6pF
 1000V

Rule in Series Circuits

 Ceq = C1-1 + C2-1 + … CN -1

 VT = VC1 + VC2
 QT = QC1 = QC1

a. Find the Capacitance

Ceq = C1-1 + C2-2 + … CN -1

Ceq = 3-1 + 6-2 -1

Ceq = 2 pF or 2 x 10-12 F

b. Total Charge or QT
Q = CV
 Q = 2 x 10-12 F (1000V)
Q = 2 x 10-9 Coloumbs

c. Potential difference or V across each capacitor

V1 = Q/C1 and V2 = Q/C2

 V1 = Q/C1
= 2 x 10-9 Coloumbs / 3pF
= 2 x 10-9 Coloumbs / 3 x 10-12 F
V1 = 666.67 V

 V2 = Q/C2
= 2 x 10-9 Coloumbs / 6pF
= 2 x 10-9 Coloumbs / 6 x 10-12 F
V1 = 333.33 V

Other Problems:

1. Three 9 µF are connected in a parallel. What is the total capacitance?

2. The capacitors of a certain electrical circuit is composed of five capacitors in series: 1 µF,
2 µF, 3 µF, 4 µF, and 5 µF. What will be the total capacitance?

3. What will be the potential difference across the capacitor that has a magnitude of
charge 2.1 nC and capacitance of 1.0 nF?
 1. Three 9 µF are connected in a parallel. What is the total capacitance?

9 µF 9 µF 9 µF

Rule in Parallel Circuits

 Ceq = C1 + C2 + … CN
 VT = VC1 = VC2
 QT = QC1 + QC1

Ceq = C1 + C2 + … CN
Ceq = 9 µF + 9 µF + 9 µF
Ceq = 27 µF or 2.7 x 10-5F

2. The capacitors of a certain electrical circuit is composed of five capacitors in series: 1 µF,
2 µF, 3 µF, 4 µF, and 5 µF. What will be the total capacitance?

1 µF 2 µF 3 µF 4 µF 5 µF

Rule in Series Circuits

 Ceq = C1-1 + C2-1 + … CN -1

 VT = VC1 + VC2
 QT = QC1 = QC1

Ceq = C1-1 + C2-2 + … CN -1

Ceq = 1-1 + 2-2 + -3-2 + 4-2 + 5-2 -1
Ceq = 0.438 µF or 4.38 x 10-7F

1. What will be the potential difference across the capacitor that has a magnitude of
charge 2.1 nC and capacitance of 1.0 nF?
Given:
Charge or Q = 2.1 nC
Capacitance = 1.0 nF
V = Q/C
V = 2.1 nC / C 1.0 nF
V = 2.1 Volts
 3. Find the equivalent capacitance between a and b for the combination of the capacitors
shown in the figure. Note: All capacitances are in microfarads.
1 µF
4 µF

3 µF

6 µF

8 µF

2 µF

Rule in Parallel Circuits

 Ceq = C1 + C2 + … CN
 VT = VC1 = VC2
 QT = QC1 + QC1

To solve:
Get the equivalent capacitance of each
1 µF
4 µF

3 µF

6 µF

8 µF

2 µF

Solve for each capacitance

CA = 1 µF + 3 µF
CA = 4 µF

CB = 6 µF + 2 µF
CB = 8 µF

Simplify the connection and redraw:

CA = 4 µF
4 µF

8 µF

CB = 8 µF
Combine:
4 µF 4 µF

8 µF 8 µF

Connection? Series
Rule in Series Circuits

 Ceq = C1-1 + C2-1 + … CN -1

 VT = VC1 + VC2
 QT = QC1 = QC1

Cc = C1-1 + C2-1 + … CN -1
Cc = 4-1 + 4-1 -1
Cc = 2 µF

CD = C1-1 + C2-1 + … CN -1
CD = 8-1 + 8-1 -1
CD = 4 µF

Final Schematics

Cc = 2 µF

CD = 4 µF

Connection? Parallel
Rule in Parallel Circuits

 Ceq = C1 + C2 + … CN
 VT = VC1 = VC2
 QT = QC1 + QC1
CT = 2 µF + 4 µF
CT = 6 µF or 6 x 10-6 F