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hofferry
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Homework Statement
The 2290.-nF capacitor is then disconnected from the 19.2-V battery and used to charge three uncharged capacitors, a 175.-nF capacitor, a 280.-nF capacitor, and a 375.-nF capacitor, connected in series.
After charging, what is the potential difference across each of the four capacitors in Volts?
Homework Equations
q=cv
The Attempt at a Solution
Its been said in my homework forum that C1 and C2,3,4 are in parallel. This means that potential difference across them is equal. Thusly, the potential difference of C1 is 19.2V. To find q for C2,3,4, I divided V or 19.2 by (1/C2 + 1/C3 + 1/C4) because V should be v2 + v3 + v4. Then I divided q by each capacitor value for 2,3,4. They added up to 19.2, which I would expect. My answers were wrong. I also tried a method where C1 and C2,3,4 were all in series, and it was still wrong.
I think my problem is that my q values are wrong?
If q, which i have calculated using 19.2*C1, is supposed to be q1+q2, where q1=C1V and q2=C2,3,4V, then it would seem that the V's between the two different equations are different, but that doesn't make sense as they are (supposedly) in parallel.
Help :(