- #1
pc2-brazil
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I found this problem while self-studying "Physics" by Resnick, Halliday and Krane.
When the switch of the attached figure is turned to the left, the plates of the capacitor of capacitance C1 acquire a potential difference V0. Initially, C2 and C3 are discharged. The switch S is now turned to the right. What are the values of the final charges q1, q2 and q3 of the respective capacitors?
Capacitance:
[tex]C = \frac{Q}{V}[/tex]
When the switch is turned to the left, C1 gets a charge [itex]q_0 = C_1V_0[/itex].
After the switch S is turned to the right, it initially seems that the capacitors C1, C2 and C3 should be in series. Then, the charges of C1, C2 and C3 would stay equal. But, according to a solution I found, the potential difference across C1 stays the same as the potential difference across the combination of C2 and C3 (which are in series). Why? This seems to imply that C1 is in parallel with the combination of C2 and C3.
Thank you in advance.
Homework Statement
When the switch of the attached figure is turned to the left, the plates of the capacitor of capacitance C1 acquire a potential difference V0. Initially, C2 and C3 are discharged. The switch S is now turned to the right. What are the values of the final charges q1, q2 and q3 of the respective capacitors?
Homework Equations
Capacitance:
[tex]C = \frac{Q}{V}[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
When the switch is turned to the left, C1 gets a charge [itex]q_0 = C_1V_0[/itex].
After the switch S is turned to the right, it initially seems that the capacitors C1, C2 and C3 should be in series. Then, the charges of C1, C2 and C3 would stay equal. But, according to a solution I found, the potential difference across C1 stays the same as the potential difference across the combination of C2 and C3 (which are in series). Why? This seems to imply that C1 is in parallel with the combination of C2 and C3.
Thank you in advance.