Electricity (Electric potential)

In summary: So in the case of two capacitors connected in series, the potential difference between the terminals is the same as the applied voltage.
  • #1
marvelous
7
0
Hi,can you please help to understand why is the potential difference the same across the gap between the plates of both capacitors connected in parallel?
 
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  • #2
All points connected together by a thick copper wire are at the same voltage. The "top" terminal of one capacitor is connected by wire to the "top" terminal of the other, causing those terminals to be at the same voltage. The same goes for the "bottom" terminals of both capacitors. So the potential difference across one capacitor is going to be equal to the potential difference across the other.
 
  • #3
So what if they were connected in series,how would the potential difference be affected?
 
  • #4
Cut in half , if you connect capacitors in series , say like two capacitors in series , you input say 120v DC you get 60 measuring from the "middle" to the ground.
 
  • #5
Crazymechanic said:
Cut in half , if you connect capacitors in series , say like two capacitors in series , you input say 120v DC you get 60 measuring from the "middle" to the ground.

That will only be true if the two capacitors have the same value. The initial charge that flows will be equal for the two capacitors so the voltages will be Q/C, in each case. The value of the charge Q will be V(overall series Capacitance). i.e. the voltage is shared according to the inverse of the two capacitances. (Fewer volts across the larger capacitor)
 
  • #6
Thanks for pointing that out I totally forgot about that , well anyway it's the same as with resistors in series , change the one to a lower resistance and the other one closer to ground to a higher and you get more than half of the original volts you supplied do it the other way around and you get less than half , in both cases capacitor or resistor the thing is called a voltage divider.
 
  • #7
marvelous said:
So what if they were connected in series,how would the potential difference be affected?
For two capacitors in series, the sum of their individual voltages equals the applied voltage.
 

What is electricity?

Electricity is a form of energy that is caused by the movement of electrons. It can be generated through various means, such as chemical reactions, friction, or electromagnetic induction.

What is electric potential?

Electric potential is the amount of potential energy that a charged particle has due to its position in an electric field. It is measured in volts and can be thought of as the force per unit charge at a given point in an electric field.

What is the difference between electric potential and electric potential energy?

Electric potential refers to the amount of potential energy a charged particle has per unit charge at a given point in an electric field. On the other hand, electric potential energy is the energy that a charged particle has due to its position in an electric field. It is measured in joules and is the product of electric potential and the charge of the particle.

What factors affect electric potential?

The electric potential at a given point is affected by several factors, including the amount of charge present, the distance between charges, and the medium through which the electric field is present. Additionally, the type of charge (positive or negative) and the direction of the electric field will also impact electric potential.

How is electric potential measured?

Electric potential is measured in volts, which is defined as joules per coulomb. It can be measured using a voltmeter, which is a device that measures the difference in electric potential between two points. The higher the voltage, the greater the electric potential difference between the two points.

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