# Charging capacitors in series

## Homework Statement

A 2600-nF capacitor is disconnected from the 15-V battery and used to charge three uncharged capacitors, a 100-nF capacitor, a 200-nF capacitor, and a 300-nF capacitor, connected in series.

After charging, what is the potential difference across each of the four capacitors?

## Homework Equations

Qo = CV = 3.9e-5 C

Qo = Q234C1[(1/100)+(1/200)+(1/300)] + Q234

## The Attempt at a Solution

Qo = 5.33Q234

Qo = 3.9e-5 C

Q234 = 7.32e-6 C

Q1/C1 = (Qo-Q234)/C1 = [(3.9e-5 C) - (7.32e-6 C)]/2600 nF = 12.2 V

V2 = (7.32e-6 C)/100 nF = 7.32 V

V3 = (7.32e-6 C)/200 nF = 3.65 V

V4 = (7.32e-6 C)/300 nF = 2.43 V

This is incorrect, and I haven't been able to figure out what's wrong.

NascentOxygen
Staff Emeritus
In charging the others, the big capacitor loses a charge Q and drops its voltage from 15V to V.

I express that in this equation,

Qo = Q234C1[(1/100)+(1/200)+(1/300)] + Q234

which is derived thusly:

(Qo-Q234)/C1 = V1

Q234[(1/100)+(1/200)+(1/300)] = V234

V1 = V234

(Qo-Q234)/C1 = Q234[(1/100)+(1/200)+(1/300)]

Qo = Q234C1[(1/100)+(1/200)+(1/300)] + Q234

NascentOxygen
Staff Emeritus
So, you can finish this now?

No, I cannot.

V1 = 14.7 V
V2 = 8.01 V
V3 = 4.01 V
V4 = 2.67 V

These differ from my answers in the op.

NascentOxygen
Staff Emeritus
Your method looks right. When I finish it I get 14.692V, 8.0137V, etc.

So it looks like you may be making an arithmetic error.

Yes, I figured out what I was doing wrong. instead of adding [(1/100) + (1/200) + (1/300)]
I was doing 1/600. lol. Gotta be careful. Thanks for your help.

In charging the others, the big capacitor loses a charge Q and drops its voltage from 15V to V.

So is it like this:
the previous charge of the energized capacitor is used to charge other capacitors. The previous energized charge is distributed to new charge of C1 and the equal charge of the series capacitors.
$$Q_{\mbox{energized C1}}=Q_{\mbox{new charge of C1}}+Q_{234}$$
Hence the new charge is
$$Q_{\mbox{energized C1}}-Q_{234}=Q_{\mbox{new charge of C1}}=V_{1}C_{1}$$
is my analogy correct?
forgive me for hijacking but this also came up in the exam but the difference is a capacitor is charging two parallel capacitors.

I already also solved the problem in the op
Q_234 is 8.01x10^-7Coloumb btw

NascentOxygen
Staff Emeritus