Practice question

**Charge conservation in series** explains same Q: when battery charges first plate, it induces -Q on second plate of same capacitor, which comes from next capacitor's plate, etc., so all have same magnitude Q, potential divides as per 1/C. In series, the equivalent capacitance Cₑq decreases when a capacitor is removed ( (1/Cₑq) = sum (1/C_i) ). With a battery maintaining constant voltage V , the energy stored is U = (1/2) Cₑq V² . A smaller Cₑq reduces U , as energy is directly proportional to capacitance under constant V . Additionally, removing a capacitor redistributes charges, potentially dissipating energy during the process, further