Practice question
Question
In a parallel combination of capacitors, why does each capacitor have the same potential difference
across its plates?
Explanation
**Sharing of charges** when charged capacitor C₁ at V₁ connected to uncharged C₂, total charge Q = C₁ V₁ conserved, common potential V_common = Q/(C₁+C₂) = C₁ V₁/(C₁+C₂), final charges Q₁' = C₁ V_common, Q₂' = C₂ V_common. For 4 μF at 100 V (Q=4×10⁻⁴ C) connected to 4 μF uncharged, V_common=4×10⁻⁴/8×10⁻⁶=50 V. In a parallel combination, the capacitors are connected across the same two nodes of the circuit. Since voltage (potential difference) is the same between these nodes (as they are directly connected to the same battery or voltage source), each capacitor experiences the same potential difference across its plates. The charge on each
Discussion
Comments
Please log in to join the discussion.
Login to commentNo comments yet. Be the first to start the discussion.