Question

Three identical capacitors are connected in series to a battery. If a total charge of Q flows from the battery, how much charge does each capacitor carry?

Answer 1

Answer:

Each of the capacitor carries the same charge, Q

Explanation:

When capacitors are connected in series, the battery voltage is divided equally across the capacitors. The total voltage across the three identical capacitors is calculated as follows;

$V_T = V_1 + V_2 + V_3$

We can also calculate this voltage in terms of capacitance and charge;

$V = \frac{Q}{C} \\\\V_T = V_1 + V_2 +V_3 \\\\(given \ total \ charge \ as \ Q, then \ the \ total \ voltage \ V_T \ can \ be \ written \ as)\\\\V_T = \frac{Q}{C_1} + \frac{Q}{C_2} + \frac{Q}{C_3} \\\\V_T = Q(\frac{1}{C_1 } +\frac{1}{C_2} + \frac{1}{C_3 })$

Therefore, each of the capacitor carries the same charge, Q