Concept : Capacitors in Parallel

1. Jul 27, 2011

thebiggerbang

What is the conceptual perspective of why equivalent capacitance is in parallel is more than the individual capacitance?
(assume we have a parallel network of capacitors of equal value)

I know the formulae, decoded the concept behind the eq cap in series but couldn't make any sense out of the parallel combo!

2. Jul 27, 2011

Staff: Mentor

Are you familiar with the equation that is used to calculate the capacitance of a simple parallel plate capacitor?

$$C = \frac{\epsilon A} {d}$$

Where A is the plate area and d is the plate separation. What can you say about the effective area of two caps in parallel? What does that do to the capacitance C in that equation?

3. Jul 27, 2011

I_am_learning

Capacitance is C = q/V .
I say, Capacitance of the capacitor in my hand is 10 Columb per Volt. Which means, If I put in 10 Columbs of charge into it I will get a voltage rise of 1 Volt.
So, If I have two such capacitors in parallel, I would have to put 20 Columb to get a voltage rise of 1 Volt.
So, two 10 columb per volt capacitor in parallel is 20 columb per volt capacitor (because, they have to share the charges (unlike series configuration))