Capacitors in Series and Parallel connection

Capacitors in Series & Parallel Connection

In the figure given below shown the capacitors in series connection.

C₁, C₂, C₃ = Capacitances of three capacitors
V₁, V₂, V₃ = Potential Difference across three capacitors.
V = applied voltage across combination
C = combined or equivalent or joining capacitance.
In series combination, charge on all capacitors is the same but potential difference across each is different.

We can also find values of V₁, V₂ and
V₃ in terms of V.

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Now, Q = C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ = C₃V₃ = CV

Capacitors in Parallel

In this case, potential difference across each is the same but charge on each is different (Figure given below).
∴ Q = Q₁ + Q₂ + Q₃ or CV = C₁V + C₂V + C₃V

C = C₁ + C₂ + C₃
For such a combination, dV/dt is the same for all capacitors.