Practice question
Question
Three capacitors \( 2 \, \text{pF} \), \( 4 \, \text{pF} \), and \( 8 \, \text{pF} \) are in parallel.
What is the total capacitance?
Explanation
**Applications** include charge sharing for voltage division, Van de Graaff generator accumulates charge on spherical dome to high potential V = k Q/R, up to MV, using belt to transport charge, capacitance of sphere C=4π ε₀ R ≈10 pF for R=0.1 m, so Q= C V ≈10⁻⁸ C for 1000 V. C = 2 + 4 + 8 = 14 pF . Using V = kQ/r, U = k q₁q₂/r, E = -dV/dr, C = ε₀A/d, 1/C_eq series, C_eq = ΣC parallel, U = ½ C V² and common potential V = Q_total/C_total, result 14 pF follows, reflecting potential-capacitance relations.
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