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# 8.3: Capacitors in Series and in Parallel


Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Explain how to determine the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series and in parallel combinations
• Compute the potential difference across the plates and the charge on the plates for a capacitor in a network and determine the net capacitance of a network of capacitors

Several capacitors can be connected together to be used in a variety of applications. Multiple connections of capacitors behave as a single equivalent capacitor. The total capacitance of this equivalent single capacitor depends both on the individual capacitors and how they are connected. Capacitors can be arranged in two simple and common types of connections, known as series and parallel, for which we can easily calculate the total capacitance. These two basic combinations, series and parallel, can also be used as part of more complex connections.

## The Series Combination of Capacitors

Figure $$\PageIndex{1}$$ illustrates a series combination of three capacitors, arranged in a row within the circuit. As for any capacitor, the capacitance of the combination is related to both charge and voltage:

$C=\dfrac{Q}{V}.$

When this series combination is connected to a battery with voltage V, each of the capacitors acquires an identical charge Q. To explain, first note that the charge on the plate connected to the positive terminal of the battery is $$+Q$$ and the charge on the plate connected to the negative terminal is $$-Q$$. Charges are then induced on the other plates so that the sum of the charges on all plates, and the sum of charges on any pair of capacitor plates, is zero. However, the potential drop $$V_1 = Q/C_1$$ on one capacitor may be different from the potential drop $$V_2 = Q/C_2$$ on another capacitor, because, generally, the capacitors may have different capacitances. The series combination of two or three capacitors resembles a single capacitor with a smaller capacitance. Generally, any number of capacitors connected in series is equivalent to one capacitor whose capacitance (called the equivalent capacitance) is smaller than the smallest of the capacitances in the series combination. Charge on this equivalent capacitor is the same as the charge on any capacitor in a series combination: That is, all capacitors of a series combination have the same charge. This occurs due to the conservation of charge in the circuit. When a charge Q in a series circuit is removed from a plate of the first capacitor (which we denote as $$-Q$$), it must be placed on a plate of the second capacitor (which we denote as $$+Q$$), and so on.

We can find an expression for the total (equivalent) capacitance by considering the voltages across the individual capacitors. The potentials across capacitors 1, 2, and 3 are, respectively, $$V_1 = Q/C_1$$, $$V_2 = Q/C_2$$, and $$V_3 = Q/C_3$$. These potentials must sum up to the voltage of the battery, giving the following potential balance:

$V = V_1 + V_2 + V_3.$

Potential $$V$$ is measured across an equivalent capacitor that holds charge $$Q$$ and has an equivalent capacitance $$C_S$$. Entering the expressions for $$V_1$$, $$V_2$$, and $$V_3$$, we get

$\dfrac{Q}{C_S} = \dfrac{Q}{C_1} + \dfrac{Q}{C_2} + \dfrac{Q}{C_3}.$

Canceling the charge Q, we obtain an expression containing the equivalent capacitance, $$C_S$$, of three capacitors connected in series:

$\dfrac{1}{C_S} = \dfrac{1}{C_1} + \dfrac{1}{C_2} + \dfrac{1}{C_3}.$

This expression can be generalized to any number of capacitors in a series network.

Series Combination

For capacitors connected in a series combination, the reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is the sum of reciprocals of individual capacitances:

$\dfrac{1}{C_S} = \dfrac{1}{C_1} + \dfrac{1}{C_2} + \dfrac{1}{C_3} + \dots \label{capseries}$

Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$: Equivalent Capacitance of a Series Network

Find the total capacitance for three capacitors connected in series, given their individual capacitances are $$1.000 \mu F$$, $$5.000 \mu F$$, and $$8.000 \mu F$$.

Strategy

Because there are only three capacitors in this network, we can find the equivalent capacitance by using Equation \ref{capseries} with three terms.

Solution

We enter the given capacitances into Equation \ref{capseries}:

\begin{align*} \dfrac{1}{C_S} &= \dfrac{1}{C_1} + \dfrac{1}{C_2} + \dfrac{1}{C_3} \\[4pt] &= \dfrac{1}{1.000 \mu F} + \dfrac{1}{5.000 \mu F} + \dfrac{1}{8.000 \mu F} \\[4pt] &= \dfrac{1.325}{\mu F}.\end{align*}

Now we invert this result and obtain

\begin{align*} C_S &= \dfrac{\mu F}{1.325} \\[4pt] &= 0.755 \mu F.\end{align*} \nonumber

Significance

Note that in a series network of capacitors, the equivalent capacitance is always less than the smallest individual capacitance in the network.

## The Parallel Combination of Capacitors

A parallel combination of three capacitors, with one plate of each capacitor connected to one side of the circuit and the other plate connected to the other side, is illustrated in Figure $$\PageIndex{2a}$$. Since the capacitors are connected in parallel, they all have the same voltage V across their plates. However, each capacitor in the parallel network may store a different charge. To find the equivalent capacitance $$C_p$$ of the parallel network, we note that the total charge Q stored by the network is the sum of all the individual charges:

$Q = Q_1 + Q_2 + Q_3.$

On the left-hand side of this equation, we use the relation $$Q = C_pV$$, which holds for the entire network. On the right-hand side of the equation, we use the relations $$Q_1 = C_1 V$$, $$Q_2 = C_2V$$, and $$Q_3 = C_3V$$ for the three capacitors in the network. In this way we obtain

$C_pV = C_1V + C_2V + C_3V.$

This equation, when simplified, is the expression for the equivalent capacitance of the parallel network of three capacitors:

$C_p = C_1 + C_2 + C_3.$

This expression is easily generalized to any number of capacitors connected in parallel in the network.

Parallel Combination

For capacitors connected in a parallel combination, the equivalent (net) capacitance is the sum of all individual capacitances in the network,

$C_p = C_1 + C_2 + C_3 + ... \label{capparallel}$

Example $$\PageIndex{2}$$: Equivalent Capacitance of a Parallel Network

Find the net capacitance for three capacitors connected in parallel, given their individual capacitances are $$1.0 \mu F$$, $$5.0 \mu F$$, and $$8.0 \mu F$$.

Strategy

Because there are only three capacitors in this network, we can find the equivalent capacitance by using Equation \ref{capparallel} with three terms.

Solution

Entering the given capacitances into Equation \ref{capparallel} yields

\begin{align*} C_p &= C_1 + C_2 + C_3 \\[4pt] &= 1.0 \mu F + 5.0 \mu F + 8.0 \mu F \\[4pt] &= 14.0 \mu F. \end{align*}

Significance

Note that in a parallel network of capacitors, the equivalent capacitance is always larger than any of the individual capacitances in the network.

Capacitor networks are usually some combination of series and parallel connections, as shown in Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$. To find the net capacitance of such combinations, we identify parts that contain only series or only parallel connections, and find their equivalent capacitances. We repeat this process until we can determine the equivalent capacitance of the entire network. The following example illustrates this process.

Example $$\PageIndex{3}$$: Equivalent Capacitance of a Network

Find the total capacitance of the combination of capacitors shown in Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$. Assume the capacitances are known to three decimal places ($$C_1 = 1.000 \mu F, C_2 = 5.000 \mu F, C_3 = 8.000 \mu F$$). Round your answer to three decimal places.

Strategy

We first identify which capacitors are in series and which are in parallel. Capacitors $$C_1$$ and $$C_2$$ are in series. Their combination, labeled $$C_S$$ is in parallel with $$C_3$$.

Solution

Since $$C_1$$ and $$C_2$$ are in series, their equivalent capacitance $$C_S$$ is obtained with Equation \ref{capseries}:

\begin{align*} \dfrac{1}{C_S} &= \dfrac{1}{C_1} + \dfrac{1}{C_2} \\[4pt] &= \dfrac{1}{1.000 \mu F} + \dfrac{1}{5.000 \mu F} \\[4pt] &= \dfrac{1.200}{\mu F} \end{align*}

Therefor

$C_S = 0.833 \mu F. \nonumber$

Capacitance $$C_S$$ is connected in parallel with the third capacitance $$C_3$$, so we use Equation \ref{capparallel} find the equivalent capacitance C of the entire network:

\begin{align*} C &= C_S + C_3 \\[4pt] &= 0.833 \mu F + 8.000 \mu F \\[4pt] &= 8.833 \mu F. \end{align*}

Network of Capacitors

Determine the net capacitance C of the capacitor combination shown in Figure $$\PageIndex{4}$$ when the capacitances are $$C_1 = 12.0 \mu F, C_2 = 2.0 \mu F$$, and $$C_3 = 4.0 \mu F$$. When a 12.0-V potential difference is maintained across the combination, find the charge and the voltage across each capacitor.

Strategy We first compute the net capacitance $$C_{23}$$ of the parallel connection $$C_2$$ and $$C_3$$. Then C is the net capacitance of the series connection $$C_1$$ and $$C_{23}$$. We use the relation $$C = Q/V$$ to find the charges $$Q_1, Q_2$$, and $$Q_3$$, and the voltages $$V_1, V_2$$, and $$V_3$$ across capacitors 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Solution The equivalent capacitance for $$C_2$$ and $$C_3$$ is

$C_{23} = C_2 + C_3 = 2.0 \mu F + 4.0 \mu F = 6.0 \mu F.$

The entire three-capacitor combination is equivalent to two capacitors in series,

$\dfrac{1}{C} = \dfrac{1}{12.0 \mu F} + \dfrac{1}{6.0 \mu F} = \dfrac{1}{4.0 \mu F} \Rightarrow C = 4.0 \mu F.$

Consider the equivalent two-capacitor combination in Figure $$\PageIndex{2b}$$. Since the capacitors are in series, they have the same charge, $$Q_1 = Q_{23}$$. Also, the capacitors share the 12.0-V potential difference, so

$12.0 V = V_1 + V_{23} = \dfrac{Q_1}{C_1} + \dfrac{Q_{23}}{C_{23}} = \dfrac{Q_1}{12.0 \mu F} + \dfrac{Q_1}{6.0 \mu F} \Rightarrow Q_1 = 48.0 \mu C.$

Now the potential difference across capacitor 1 is

$V_1 = \dfrac{Q_1}{C_1} = \dfrac{48.0 \mu C}{12.0 \mu F} = 4.0 V.$

Because capacitors 2 and 3 are connected in parallel, they are at the same potential difference:

$V_2 = V_3 = 12.0 V - 4.0 V = 8.0 V.$

Hence, the charges on these two capacitors are, respectively,

$Q_2 = C_2V_2 = (2.0 \mu F)(8.0 V) = 16.0 \mu C,$

$Q_3 = C_3V_3 = (4.0 \mu F)(8.0 V) = 32.0 \mu C.$

Significance As expected, the net charge on the parallel combination of $$C_2$$ and $$C_3$$ is $$Q_{23} = Q_2 + Q_3 = 48.0 \mu C.$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{1}$$

Determine the net capacitance C of each network of capacitors shown below. Assume that $$C_1 = 1.0 pF, C_2 = 2.0 pF, C_3 = 4.0 pF$$, and $$C_4 = 5.0 pF$$. Find the charge on each capacitor, assuming there is a potential difference of 12.0 V across each network.

$$C = 0.86 pF, Q_1 = 10 pC, Q_2 = 3.4 pC, Q_3 = 6.8 pC$$

$$C = 2.3 pF, Q_1 = 12 pC, Q_2 = Q_3 = 16 pC$$
$$C = 2.3 pF, Q_1 = 9.0 pC, Q_2 = 18 pC, Q_3 = 12 pC, Q_4 = 15 pC$$