Capacitors in parallel and in series

In summary, you will need 1 capacitor with these specifications in a parallel connection to achieve the desired result.
  • #1
chopticks
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The problem: A capacitor has the capacitance 35nF, the tolerance is max 10V. You have to put 30V over the capacitor . How many capacitors of same kind do you need if you want to achieve same C(35nF) that tolerate 30V?

I have translated it from swedish to english, sorry if my english isn't so good, I hope you understand the though.

Hypothesis: Has it something to do with the connection, serial or parallel? I think that the charge Q should be the same for the new connection therefore we should use parallel connection. Am I wrong?
 
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  • #2
Answer: You will need 1 capacitor with a capacitance of 35nF and a tolerance of 30V to achieve the same capacitance and voltage tolerance. The capacitors must be connected in parallel in order to achieve this.
 
  • #3


Your hypothesis is correct. In a parallel connection, the total capacitance is equal to the sum of the individual capacitances. Therefore, to achieve the same capacitance of 35nF with a tolerance of 30V, you would need to use multiple capacitors in parallel. The number of capacitors needed would depend on the capacitance of each individual capacitor. For example, if you use 10 capacitors with a capacitance of 3.5nF each, the total capacitance would be 35nF and the tolerance would still be 30V. It is important to note that when connecting capacitors in parallel, the voltage across each capacitor will be the same, so it is important to choose capacitors with a voltage rating higher than 30V to avoid damaging them.
 

1. How is the total capacitance calculated in a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, the total capacitance is calculated by simply adding up the individual capacitances of each capacitor. This is because in a parallel circuit, each capacitor is connected to the same two points in the circuit and therefore experiences the same voltage.

2. What happens to the total capacitance in a series circuit?

In a series circuit, the total capacitance decreases as the number of capacitors increases. This is because in a series circuit, the capacitors share the same voltage, but the total charge is divided among the capacitors, resulting in a smaller effective capacitance.

3. How does the charge distribution differ between parallel and series circuits?

In a parallel circuit, each capacitor has its own individual charge, while in a series circuit, the charge is shared among all the capacitors. This means that in a parallel circuit, the total charge is equal to the sum of the individual charges, while in a series circuit, the total charge is the same for all the capacitors.

4. What is the effect of adding a capacitor in parallel?

Adding a capacitor in parallel increases the total capacitance in the circuit. This is because the added capacitor provides an additional pathway for charge to flow, resulting in a larger effective capacitance.

5. How does the voltage affect the capacitance in a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each capacitor is the same as the total voltage in the circuit. Therefore, changing the voltage in a parallel circuit will not affect the individual capacitances, but it will affect the total capacitance by changing the amount of charge that can be stored in the capacitors.

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