Potential difference across capacitors, can someone check this?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the potential difference across capacitor C2 in a circuit with capacitors C1 (5.0 µF), C2 (15 µF), and C3 (30 µF) connected to a voltage source of 24 V. The user initially miscalculated the total capacitance of C1 and C3 in parallel as 3.5 x 10^-5 Farads, leading to an incorrect voltage across C2. After reevaluating, the correct total capacitance was found to be 1.5 x 10^-5 Farads, resulting in a potential difference of 24 V across C2, confirming the calculations were accurate.

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Homework Statement


What is the potential difference across C2 when C1 = 5.0 µF, C2 = 15 µF, C3 = 30 µF, and V0 = 24 V?
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/9994/capacitanceqb1.jpg


Homework Equations



C = Q/V


The Attempt at a Solution



I calculated total capacitance of C1 and C3 in parallel, that is 3.5 x 10^-5 Farads.

So the charge going across is Q = CV = 3.5x10^-5 x 24 = 8.4 x 10^-4 C

Therefore the voltage going across the other capacitor is V = Q/C, which 8.4x10^-4/15x10^-6 = 56V

Which looks really wrong.

Help?

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Wait I redid it. I first calculated the total capacitance which turned out to be 1.5x10^-5 Farads.

Got the total charge by Q = CV, 1.5x10^-5 x 24 = 3.6x10^-4 C

3.6x10^-4/15x10^-6 = 24 V

So is that right?
 

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