Understanding Capacitor Voltage in Series Circuits

Thread starter Miike012
Start date Feb 23, 2012
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Capacitor Charge

AI Thread Summary

In series circuits, the total voltage is distributed among the capacitors, meaning each capacitor experiences a different voltage. The voltage across an individual capacitor can be calculated using the formula Q = C V, where Q is the charge, C is the capacitance, and V is the voltage across that specific capacitor. For three capacitors in series with a total of 12 volts, the voltage across the 2 uF capacitor will not equal 12 volts. Instead, it will be a fraction of the total voltage based on the capacitance values of all capacitors in the series. Understanding this distribution is crucial for accurately calculating voltage across each capacitor.

Feb 23, 2012

Miike012

Problem is in paint doc...

My solution: Multiply 2.0*10^-6 by 12 volts... what am I doing wrong?

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Feb 23, 2012

MisterX

For a capacitor Q = C V, but V would be the voltage on the individual capacitor.

There would be 12 volts across the three capacitors in series. The 2 uF capacitor would have a voltage different than 12 V.

Last edited: Feb 23, 2012

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