COMBINATION

OF
CAPACITORS
 How are capacitors connected?

• 
Capacitors are one of the standard components in electrostatics. It is useful to have a set of rules for
finding the equivalent capacitance of some general capacitors arrangements. The equivalent
capacitance of any complicated arrangement can be determined by the repeated application of two
simple rules and these rules are related to capacitors connected in series and in parallel.
The combination is connected to a battery to apply a potential difference (V) and charge the plates (Q). We
can define the equivalent capacitance of the combination between two points to be
C
where: C = capacitance of capacitors

Q = the charge on the capacitors

V = potential difference
Two frequently used methods of combination are: Parallel combination and Series combination
 PARALLEL COMBINATIONS OF CAPACITORS

Capacitors are said to be connected in parallel when both of their

terminals are respectively connected to each terminal of the other
capacitors.
What is the equivalent capacitance between the two capacitors?
In this case, the potential difference V across the two capacitors is the same
However, the total stored charge Q is divided between the two capacitors, since it must distribute
itself such that the voltage across them is same.
Since, the capacitors may have different capacitances, C1 and C2, the charges Q1 and Q2 may
also be different.
The equivalent capacitance (Ceq) of the pair of capacitors is simply the ratio Q/V,
where Q=Q1+Q2 is the total stored charge.
It follows that :

Hence,

In general for we can say that :

The equivalent capacitance of two capacitors connected in parallel is the sum of the individual
capacitances.
Example :
Calculate the combined capacitance of the following capacitors each with a
capacitance of 47 nF, when they are connected together in a parallel combination .
Solution :
Total Capacitance,

For N capacitors connected in parallel, the equation for equivalent capacitance

can be generalize to :
Ceq = NC
 SERIES COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS

Capacitors are said to be connected in series, when they are effectively

daisy chained together in a single line.
 As a result, both capacitors possess the same stored charge     

What is the equivalent capacitance of the two capacitors?

It is important to realize that the charge Q stored in the two capacitors is same.
Let us consider the internal plates i.e., the negative plate of capacitor 1, and the
positive plate of capacitor 2. These plates are physically disconnected from the
rest of the circuit, so the total charge on them must remain constant.
Since the negative plate of capacitor 1 carries a charge -Q , the positive plate of
capacitor 2 carries a charge + Q  to balance it.

As a result, both capacitors possess the same stored charge Q.

The potential drops, V1 and V2, across the two capacitors different.
However, the sum of these drops equals the total potential drop V applied across the input and
output wires: V = V1 + V2
The equivalent capacitance of the pair of capacitors is again Ceq = Q/V . Thus,

Hence,

Hence, we can conclude that :

The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors connected in series is the sum of
the reciprocals of the individual capacitances.
• 
Example
Find the overall capacitance and the individual rms voltage drops across the two capacitors each
with 47 nF ,in series when connected to a 12V a.c. supply.
Solution :
Total Capacitance,

Voltage drop across the two identical 47 nF capacitors,

For N capacitors connected in series, the equivalent capacitance equation can be generalized to :