Capacitors charged in parallel

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L_landau
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Homework Statement


Capacitors C1 = 6.97 uF and C2 = 1.54 uF are charged as a parallel combination across a 281 V battery. The capacitors are disconnected from the battery and from each other. They are then connected positive plate to negative plate and negative plate to positive plate.
A) Calculate the resulting charge on capacitor C1.
B) Calculate the resulting charge on capacitor C2.

from this answer
http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/capacitors-c1-697-uf-c2-154-uf-charged-parallel-combination-across-281-v-battery-capacitor-q1385340

Homework Equations


Q = CΔV

The Attempt at a Solution


So q1 = 1.5x10-3c and q2 = 5x10-4c. Why would the drawing show opposite polarizations on the plates? Shouldn't the battery give the same potential drop across two capacitors in parallel?
 
Attachments
  • Circuit diagram of two capacitors C1 and C2 in parallel, each drawn with plate signs; C1 is top with red plus on left plate and blue minus on right, C2 is bottom with blue minus on left plate and red plus on right.
    Screen Shot 2017-08-22 at 11.04.55 AM.png
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L_landau said:
from this answer
That answer is visible only to chegg members.
L_landau said:
Why would the drawing show opposite polarizations on the plates?
Because,
L_landau said:
They are then connected positive plate to negative plate and negative plate to positive plate.
 
But the picture is as they are charged and before they are connected positive to negative and vice-versa I thought?
 
L_landau said:
But the picture is as they are charged and before they are connected positive to negative and vice-versa I thought?
No. It is just after they are reconnected in series.

L_landau said:
Shouldn't the battery give the same potential drop across two capacitors in parallel?
That would be true when the capacitors were charging.