General

Physics 2 12
General Physics 2 – Grade 12
Quarter 3 – Module 6: Series and Parallel Capacitors
First Edition, 2020

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 General
Physics 2 12
Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module 6
Series and Parallel Capacitors
Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

Welcome to the General Physics 2 Grade 12 Self-Learning Module on Series

and Parallel Capacitors!

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed, and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and

independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims
to help learners acquire the needed 21st-century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them
to manage their learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the learner:

Welcome to the General Physics 2 Module on Series and Parallel Capacitors!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an
active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

A. explain the difference of capacitors connected in series and parallel in terms

of capacitance, potential difference, and charge.
B. calculate the equivalent capacitance of a network of capacitors connected in
series/parallel
C. give the importance of capacitors in electronics.

PRETEST

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following describes a capacitor?

A. amplifies the electronic signal.
B. resists the flow of current.
C. conducts primarily in one direction.
D. stores energy electrostatically in an electric field.
2. Which of the following describes a series connection of capacitors?
A. Total voltage is equal to the voltage drop in each capacitor.
B. The total charge is equal to the sum of the individual charge.
C. The equivalent capacitance is equal to the sum of the individual
capacitance.
D. The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is equal to the sum of the
reciprocal individual capacitance.
3. What is the capacitance in the network if two capacitors 2 μF and 3.5 μF
are connected parallel?
A. 7 μF
B. 5.5 μF
C. 1.5 μF
D. 1.2 μF
4. What is the energy stored in a 3 μF capacitor charged to 6 V.
A. 3 μJ
B. 9 μJ
C. 18 μJ
D. 54 μJ
5. Which of the following is the best use of capacitor in our daily life?
A. Used as switches in a digital circuit.
B. Used in television systems as phase detectors.
C. Used in a heater and many more heating appliances.
D. Used to measure fuel levels and air humidity as sensors.
 RECAP

Write the formula and S.I unit of the following quantities.

Quantity Formula S.I Unit

1.Electric Potential Energy

2.Potential Difference
3.Electric Potential
4.Electric Field
5.Capacitance

LESSON
Did you enjoy watching television during
Figure 1: Television has capacitors
this time of pandemic? But you can enjoy
it more if you can’t hear any electrical
noise from it. And that is what capacitors
do in your television. Because capacitors
hold electric charges, they act as
dampers, slowing down the sudden
movement of current, including noise.
Without capacitors in the power supply,
the television would have a noisy picture and a persistent low-pitched buzz in the
speakers.
Several capacitors can be connected to be used in a variety of applications. They
can be arranged in two simple and common types of connections, known
as series and parallel, for which we can easily calculate the total capacitance.
These two basic combinations, series, and parallel can also be used as part of more
complex connections.

The Series Combination of Capacitors

As for any capacitor, the capacitance of the combination is related to both charge
and voltage:
𝑄⁄
𝐶= 𝑉
When this series combination is connected to a battery with voltage V, each of the
capacitors acquires an identical charge Q. To explain, first note that the charge on
the plate connected to the positive terminal of the battery is +Q and the charge on
the plate connected to the negative terminal is −Q. Charges are then induced on
the other plates so that the sum of the charges on all plates, and the sum of
charges on any pair of capacitor plates, is zero. However, the potential drop 𝑉1 =
𝑄
⁄𝐶 on one capacitor may be different from the potential drop V2=Q/C2 on
1
another capacitor, because, generally, the capacitors may have different
capacitances. The series combination of two or three capacitors resembles a
single capacitor with a smaller capacitance. Generally, any number of capacitors
connected in series is equivalent to one capacitor whose capacitance (called
the equivalent capacitance) is smaller than the smallest of the capacitances in
the series combination. Charge on this equivalent capacitor is the same as the
charge on any capacitor in a series combination: That is, all capacitors of a series
combination have the same charge.

𝑄𝑇 = 𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3
This occurs due to the conservation of charge in the circuit. When a charge Q in a
series circuit is removed from a plate of the first capacitor (which we denote as −Q),
it must be placed on a plate of the second capacitor (which we denote as +Q), and
so on.

Figure 1: (a) Three capacitors are connected in series. Tha magnitude of the charge on each
plate is Q. (B) The network of capacitors in (a) is equivalent to one capacitor that has smaller
capacitance than any of the individual capacitances in (a), and the charge on its plates is Q.

https://phys.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/8157/CNX_UPhysics_25_02_Series.jpg?revision=2

We can find an expression for the total (equivalent) capacitance by considering the
voltages across the individual capacitors. The potentials across capacitors 1, 2, and
3 are, respectively,

𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
𝑉1 = ⁄𝐶 𝑉2 = ⁄𝐶 𝑉3 = ⁄𝐶
2 2 3
These potentials must sum up to the voltage of the battery, giving the following
potential balance:

𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 + ⋯

Potential V is measured across an equivalent capacitor that holds charge Q and

has an equivalent capacitance CS. Entering the expressions for V1, V2, and V3, we
get

𝑄 𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
= + + +⋯
𝐶𝑇 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

Canceling the charge Q, we obtain an expression containing the

equivalent capacitance, CT, of three capacitors connected in series:

1 1 1 1
= + + +⋯
𝐶𝑇 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

This expression can be generalized to any number of capacitors in a series network.

Sample Problem

Four capacitors with the capacitance of 4 μF, 3 μF, 6 μF, and 12 μF respectively
are connected in series with a battery of 12.0 V. Determine the following:
(a) Equivalent capacitance
(b) Total charge
(c) Individual voltage

Solution:
(a) Equivalent Capacitance (c) Individual Voltage
1 1 1 1 1
= + + + (𝑄𝑇 = 𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3 = 𝑄4 )
𝐶𝑇 4 𝜇𝐹 3𝜇𝐹 6𝜇𝐹 12𝜇𝐹
1 3+4+2+1 𝑄1 14.4 𝜇𝐶
= 𝑉1 = = = 3.6 𝑉
𝐶𝑇 12 𝜇𝐹 𝐶1 4 𝜇𝐹
1 10
= 𝑄2 14.4 𝜇𝐶
𝐶𝑇 12 𝜇𝐹 𝑉2 = = = 4.8 𝑉
12 𝜇𝐹 𝐶2 3 𝜇𝐹
𝐶𝑇 =
10 𝑄3 14.4 𝜇𝐶
𝐶𝑇 = 1.2 𝜇𝐹 𝑉3 = = = 2.4 𝑉
𝐶3 6 𝜇𝐹
(b) Total charge 𝑄4 14.4 𝜇𝐶
𝑉4 = = = 1.2 𝑉
𝑄𝑇 = 𝐶𝑇 𝑉𝑇 𝐶4 12 𝜇𝐹
𝑄𝑇 = 1.2 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 (12.0 𝑉)
𝑄𝑇 = 1.44 𝑥 10−5 𝐶 Checking
𝑄𝑇 = 14.4 𝜇𝐶
𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 + 𝑉4

12 𝑉 = 3.6 𝑉 + 4.8 𝑉 + 2.4 𝑉 + 1.2 𝑉

12 𝑉 = 12 𝑉
The Parallel Combination of Capacitors

A parallel combination of three capacitors, with one plate of

each capacitor connected to one side of the circuit and the other plate connected to
the other side. Since the capacitors are connected in parallel, they all have the
same voltage V across their plates.

𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 = ⋯

Figure 2: (a) Three capacitors are connected in parallel. Each capacitor is connected directly to
the battery. (b) The charge on the equivalent capacitor is the sum of the charges on the
individual capacitors.

https://phys.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/8158/CNX_UPhysics_25_02_QC.jpg?revision=3

However, each capacitor in the parallel network may store a different charge. To
find the equivalent capacitance CT of the parallel network, we note that the total
charge Q stored by the network is the sum of all the individual charges:

𝑄𝑇 = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 + ⋯

On the left-hand side of this equation, we use the relation 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑇 𝑉, which holds for
the entire network.

𝐶𝑇 𝑉 = 𝐶1 𝑉 + 𝐶2 𝑉 + 𝐶3 𝑉 + ⋯

This equation, when simplified, is the expression for the equivalent capacitance of
the parallel network of three capacitors:

𝐶𝑇 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 + ⋯

This expression is easily generalized to any number of capacitors connected in

parallel in the network.

Sample Problem
Four capacitors with the capacitance of 4 μF, 3 μF, 6 μF, and 12 μF respectively
are connected in parallel with a battery of 12.0 V. Determine the following:
(a) Equivalent capacitance
(b) Total charge
(c) Individual charges
 Solution (c) Individual charge

(a) Total Capacitance (𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 = 𝑉4 )

𝐶𝑇 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 + 𝐶4 𝑄1 = 𝐶1 𝑉1 = (4 𝜇𝐹)(12𝑉) = 48 𝜇𝐶
𝐶𝑇 = 4 𝜇𝐹 + 3 𝜇𝐹 + 6 𝜇𝐹 + 12 𝜇𝐹 𝑄2 = 𝐶2 𝑉2 = (3 𝜇𝐹)(12𝑉) = 36 𝜇𝐶
𝐶𝑇 = 25 𝜇𝐹 𝑄3 = 𝐶3 𝑉3 = (6 𝜇𝐹)(12𝑉) = 72 𝜇𝐶
𝑄4 = 𝐶4 𝑉4 = (12 𝜇𝐹)(12𝑉) = 144 𝜇𝐶
(b) Total Charge
𝑄𝑇 = 𝐶𝑇 𝑉𝑇 Checking
𝑄𝑇 = 25 𝜇𝐹 (12𝑉) 𝑄𝑇 = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 + 𝑄4
𝑄𝑇 = 300 𝜇𝐶 300 𝜇𝐶 = 48 𝜇𝐶 + 36 𝜇𝐶 + 72 𝜇𝐶 + 144 𝜇𝐶
300 𝜇𝐶 = 300 𝜇𝐶

Energy stored in a simple capacitor

1 2
𝑄2
𝑃𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑝 = 𝐶(𝛥𝑉) =
2 2𝐶
The energy stored in a capacitor is potential energy. It can be extracted from the
capacitor and transforms into other forms of energy, or can be used to do
mechanical work.

Sample Problem
A heart defibrillator delivers 500 J of energy by discharging a capacitor initially at
20,000 V. What is its capacitance?
III. Solution:
I. Given:
𝑃𝐸 = 500 𝐽 2𝐸
𝐶=
𝑉 = 20,000 𝑉 𝑉2
𝐶 =?
2 (5.0 𝑥 102 𝐽)
𝐶=
(2.0 𝑥 104 𝑉)2

II. Formula: 1.0 𝑥 103 𝐽

𝐶=
2𝐸 4.0 𝑥 108 𝑉 2
𝐶= 2
𝑉 𝐶 = 2.5 𝑥 10−6 𝐹

𝐶 = 2.5 𝜇𝐹
 ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Solve Me!

Directions: Sketch the diagram for each item and solve what is being asked.

1. Three capacitors with individual capacitances of 2 μF, 5 μF, and 10 μF

respectively are connected in series with a 12V battery. What are the total
capacitance and total charge in the network?
2. Same capacitors in number 1 connected in a parallel. If the combined
charge in the network is 50 μC, what are the total voltage and total
capacitance in the network?
3. A series combination of two uncharged capacitors are connected to a 15-
V battery, 300 μJ of energy is drawn from the battery. If one of the
capacitors has a capacitance of 5.0 μF, what is the capacitance of the
other?

Activity 2: Series-Parallel Capacitor

Four capacitors are connected as shown in the figure below. Determine the
following:

A. Total Capacitance (CT)

B. Total Charge (QT)
C. Individual Charges (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
D. Voltage drop in each capacitor (V1, V2, V3, V4)
 Activity 3: Energy Stored in a Capacitor
1. A voltage of 12 V is placed on a capacitor with C = 85 pF. (a) What is the
charge on the capacitor? (b) How much energy is stored in the capacitor?
2. In open-heart surgery, a much smaller amount of energy will defibrillate the
heart. (a) What voltage is applied to the 7 F capacitor of a heart defibrillator
that stores 60.0 J of energy? (b) Find the amount of stored charge.
3. Calculate the energy stored in a 5 μF capacitor charged to 30 V.

WRAP-UP
Directions: Describe the total and individual charge, capacitance, and voltage in a
series and parallel network of capacitors in terms of an equation.

Series Network Parallel Network

Charge
Capacitance
Voltage

VALUING

Our appliances have been a great help to us especially this

time of the pandemic. What appliance help you the most
during this time of pandemic and how did the capacitor
make it function well?

POSTTEST

Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following used to store electrical energy?

A. Capacitor
B. Diode
C. Resistor
D. Transistor
2. Which of the following describes a parallel connection of capacitors?
A. Total voltage is equal to the sum of the voltage drop in each capacitor.
B. The total charge is equal to the individual charges.
C. The equivalent capacitance is equal to the sum of the individual
capacitance.
D. The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is equal to the sum of the
reciprocal individual capacitance.
3. What is the capacitance in the network if two capacitors 2 μF and 4 μF are
connected series?
A. 7.3 μF
B. 6.3 μF
C. 2.3 μF
D. 1.3 μF
4. What is the energy stored in a 5 μF capacitor if the charge present in it is 30
μC?
A. 30 μJ
B. 90 μJ
C. 150 μJ
D. 540 μJ
5. The following describes a television without a capacitor except:
A. Persistent low pitched buzz
B. Noisy picture
C. Clear image
D. All of the above

KEY TO CORRECTION
F 𝛥𝑉
𝐶=
Farad, 5.Capacitance 𝑄 5.) B 5.) D
Field 𝑑
𝐸=
VT=V1=V2=V3 VT=V1+V2+V3 V N/C 4.Electric 𝛥𝑉 4.) B 4.) D
𝐶2 𝐶2 𝐶3 charge
= + +
1 1 1 to a point
𝐶𝑇 V Potential due 𝑟
𝑉=
CT=C1+C2+C3 1 C Volt, 3.Electric 𝑘𝑄 3.) D 3.) B
V Difference 𝑄
𝛥𝑉 =
QT=Q1+Q2+Q3 QT=Q1=Q2=Q3 Q Volt, 2.Potential 𝛥𝑈 2.) C 2.) D
Energy
J Potential = 𝑞𝐸𝑑
Parallel Series Joule, 1.Electric 𝛥𝑈 1.) A 1.) D
Unit Quantity Formula
Wrap-Up Recap Posttest Pretest
 μC
3.) 2.25 x 10-3 J 3.) C2 = 2.85
Q = 0.029 C Q3=Q4=0.54 μC VT = 3V
2.) V = 4140 V Q2 = 150 μC 2.) CT = 17 μF:
Q1 = 75 μC V4 = 18 V QT = 15 μC
PE = 6.12 nJ T
Q = 225 μC V3 = 12 V μF;
1.) Q = 1.02 nC T
C = 7.5 μF VT=V1=V2=30 V 1.) CT = 1.25
Activity 3 Activity 2 Activity 1

References
Jerry D. Wilson and Anthony J. Buffa. 2003. PHYSICS 4th Edition. Philippines:
Pearson Education South Asia PTE. LTD

John D. Cutnell and Kenneth W. Johnson. 2004. Physics 6th Edition. Philippines:
Golden Gate Printers

Nicholas J. Giordano. 2018. General Physics 2. Manila: REX Book Store Inc

Libretexts. “8.3: Capacitors in Series and in Parallel.” Physics LibreTexts. Libretexts,

November 5, 2020.
https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Book%3A_University_Phy
sics_(OpenStax)/Map%3A_University_Physics_II_-
_Thermodynamics_Electricity_and_Magnetism_(OpenStax)/08%3A_Capacitance/8.03
%3A_Capacitors_in_Series_and_in_Parallel.