Identifying series and parallel connections

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The discussion focuses on understanding series and parallel connections of capacitors in a circuit. It explains that capacitors connected between the same two points are in parallel, while those connected in a single path are in series. A key point is that parallel components share two nodes, while series components share a single node exclusively. Visual aids, such as coloring nodes, can help identify connections. The conversation also clarifies that components like resistors and capacitors can be in series or parallel, but switches and keys do not count as electronic components in this context. Understanding these concepts is crucial for solving circuit problems effectively.
  • #91
gneill said:
A wire is a equivalent to a zero valued resistance
Wires will always be there in a circuit,then this means all the circuits short circuited.Of course not,what am I missing?
 
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  • #92
I now understand how tha answer came out to be ##\frac{3C}{4}##
But I am still facing difficulty in comprehending the following
gneill said:
A wire is a equivalent to a zero valued resistance. The parallel pair on the right was shorted by the wire going over/around it.
 
  • #93
gracy said:
Wires will always be there in a circuit,then won't this all the circuits are short circuited?Of course not,what am I missing?
Go back to the discussion of what a "short circuit" means. It means a bypass (either intentional or accidental) of a normal circuit path. Wires (paths) that are supposed to be there to interconnect components are just doing what they were meant to do.

In the circuit under discussion two of the capacitors are bypassed by a wire. Whether this was intentional (i.e. a "trick" for you to discover) or an accident (the author of the problem made a mistake) cannot be known for sure, but because it is not a proper situation to have for a practical circuit (why would one design a circuit with parts that do nothing?) we call that path a short circuit: the subcircuit comprising the two capacitors is shorted. Current will not flow in that subcircuit due to the bypass.
 
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