What are the Individual Capacitor Charges and Voltage in a Circuit?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the individual charges and voltages across capacitors in a circuit, specifically addressing the capacitance values and the total voltage applied. The context includes a mix of series and parallel capacitor arrangements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss methods for splitting total capacitance and charge into individual components, questioning the complexity of the approach. There is mention of using simultaneous equations for capacitance and charge.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants exploring different methods for analyzing the circuit. Some guidance has been offered regarding combining capacitors in series and parallel, and there is an acknowledgment of the relationships between charge and capacitance.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the mixed configuration of series and parallel connections in the circuit, which may complicate the analysis. There is also a sense of uncertainty about the best approach to take in solving the problem.

Shiba Tatsuya
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Homework Statement


the capacitance of each capacitors and the cell voltage

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I got the total capacitance = 8028/5333 uF
total voltage = 36v
total charge=289008/5333 uC
 

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You should systematically split the total capacitance and the total charge. Each time there should be a simultaneous equation (one equation of capacitance and the other of charge).

I have a feeling I am suggesting the unnecessarily long way, there might be a shorter method.
 
lekh2003 said:
You should systematically split the total capacitance and the total charge. Each time there should be a simultaneous equation (one equation of capacitance and the other of charge).

I have a feeling I am suggesting the unnecessarily long way, there might be a shorter method.
but how? the at the top wiring it is a series connection but at the middle and the bottom, it is parallel :/
 
Shiba Tatsuya said:
but how? the at the top wiring it is a series connection but at the middle and the bottom, it is parallel :/
But you still know the equations for both. For know, combine anything parallel and make it series. Later, you can split them into parallel again by using the same backwards technique.

Let me get you started. Solve for the top part of the circuit and the two bottom parts combined. Then split the two bottom parts into separate parts. You will have three capacitances of three parts. You can continue.
 
lekh2003 said:
But you still know the equations for both. For know, combine anything parallel and make it series. Later, you can split them into parallel again by using the same backwards technique.

Let me get you started. Solve for the top part of the circuit and the two bottom parts combined. Then split the two bottom parts into separate parts. You will have three capacitances of three parts. You can continue.

by splitting, you mean dividing the result into two?
 
Shiba Tatsuya said:
by splitting, you mean dividing the result into two?
No, I mean going backward. Think about how the charge changes when you add parallely and how the capacitance changes when you add parallely. Then work backwards with the two equations.

For example, say I have the total capacitance and charge of a parallel circuit with two sections, C and Q. The upper section has capacitance and charge, C1 and Q1. The lower section has capacitance and charge, C2 and Q2. I know that Q1 + Q2 = Q and the same can be said for capacitance, because capacitances and charges add together when in parallel. Knowing that Q = CV, you can solve for the necessary variables.
 
lekh2003 said:
No, I mean going backward. Think about how the charge changes when you add parallely and how the capacitance changes when you add parallely. Then work backwards with the two equations.

For example, say I have the total capacitance and charge of a parallel circuit with two sections, C and Q. The upper section has capacitance and charge, C1 and Q1. The lower section has capacitance and charge, C2 and Q2. I know that Q1 + Q2 = Q and the same can be said for capacitance, because capacitances and charges add together when in parallel. Knowing that Q = CV, you can solve for the necessary variables.
thank you :D I also noticed this relationship :D I'm done now :D
 
Shiba Tatsuya said:
thank you :D I also noticed this relationship :D I'm done now :D
Glad I could help.
 

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