Can Connecting Positive Plate of C1 to Negative Plate of C2 Cause an Explosion?

[ABC2233]

Homework Statement

Q1= 200 C
Q2=400 C

Homework Equations

Qtotal= Q1+Q2 ?

The Attempt at a Solution

Qtotal=Q1+Q2=400-200=200 C
Is it possible to connect the positive plate of C1 to the negative plate of C2 and vice versa without the capacitor getting explode ?

 

[Simon Bridge]

Is it possible to connect the positive plate of C1 to the negative plate of C2 and vice versa without the capacitor getting explode ?

Yes.

 

[ABC2233]

Thanks.
One other question if I may ask, is those capacitors connected in parallel ?
Can we say that V1=V2 ?

 

[Simon Bridge]

If capacitors are in parallel with each other, then the voltage across one capacitor is also across the other one.

 

[ABC2233]

so as in this picture, it's possible and it's considered parallel, right?

 

[Simon Bridge]

I'd say they were in series because a current will flow around the loop - forming a circuit.
But you wouldn't normally be trying to find equivalent capacitances in that situation.

In a steady-state those capacitors would be considered to be in parallel with each other.
But that would be after the charges have rearranged. Before that, the distinction does not mean much.

 

[ABC2233]

Right.
We had a homework before, we had to calculate the final charge after the rearrangement.

As I have been told, we calculate the final charge after the rearrangement then consider it to be parallel, Right ?

 

[ehild]

We had a homework before, we had to calculate the final charge after the rearrangement.

As I have been told, we calculate the final charge after the rearrangement then consider it to be parallel, Right ?

It is right.

ehild

 

[ABC2233]

Thanks a lot Simon Bridge & ehild.

 

[Simon Bridge]

As I have been told, we calculate the final charge after the rearrangement then consider it to be parallel, Right ?

That's right.
In the configuration shown in the diagram, the voltages across the capacitors are not the same, because of the way the charges are arranged. After the charges have rearranged, the voltages will be the same.

 

[ABC2233]

That's right.
In the configuration shown in the diagram, the voltages across the capacitors are not the same, because of the way the charges are arranged. After the charges have rearranged, the voltages will be the same.

Thanks.