Capacitors in Series: Voltage & Charge Explained

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    Capacitors Series
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of capacitors in series and parallel configurations, focusing on the relationships between charge and voltage across the capacitors.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions why charge remains constant across capacitors in series while voltage varies. Participants explore the nature of charge distribution and voltage relationships, referencing the behavior of capacitors in parallel as a contrasting scenario.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the concepts, with some providing insights into the fundamental principles of charge and voltage. There is an exploration of different configurations, but no consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the implications of charge conservation and voltage distribution in different capacitor arrangements, indicating a need for clarity on these foundational concepts.

adabistanesoophia
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Hi,

When capacitors are connected in series then why charge remains same on each capacitor and why voltage differs on each capacitor?

Regards,

Rizwan Khalil
923214120424 :smile:
 
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Charge doesn't come out of nowhere--and it doesn't flow across the gap. So the + charge on one side of capacitor 1 must be balanced by an equal - charge on the adjacent side of the capacitor 2. (The net charge on the capacitor is zero; and the net charge on the two plates connected by the wire is also zero.)

As far as voltage goes, how does voltage depend on Q and C?
 
But why Q differs in parallel combinations of capacitors?
 
In that case the voltage is the same, but the total Q is shared among all the parallel capacitors. Each gets a portion according to V and C.
 

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