Combination of Capacitors in Series and in Parallel

The capacitors in series and parallel are the part of the chapter Capacitor and capacitance. To learn more about capacitors, we must understand the combination of capacitors. Therefore, it is a vital aspect of this chapter to discover various combination formulas, implementations, examples, equations, etc. this chapter will give you the basic information of capacitors and combinations of series and parallel capacitors.

Concept of Combination of capacitors

Different capacitors can be connected with each other and can be used in several applications. Capacitors that have multiple connections can behave like a single equivalent capacitor. The capacitance of an equivalent single capacitor depends on the connection of single capacitors and individual capacitors. Two simple processes of capacitors can arrange capacitors. One is capacitors in series, and the other one is parallel. These are the two simple and common types of connection of capacitors. These two connections are used in the simple or individual capacitors and can be used in more complex connections. A capacitance of any combination is related to the voltage or charge for any capacitor. In simple words, it is generally the capacitors in series of the capacitance of connection that can be less than any individual capacitance.

Combination of capacitors in series and in parallel

To explain the capacitors in series, we need to focus on the individual concept of capacitor in Series and capacitor in parallel. The capacitor of series is a type of series that only occurs when the 2nd plate of the 1st capacitor connects with the 1st plate of the 2nd capacitor. The capacitor of series usually carries 0 charges on them, and a potential difference is applied across the capacitor while getting started. So, for example, if we assume the 1st capacitor of the left-hand side, connected with the positive side of the battery, there will be a charge in the capacitor +Q. In this situation, the charge will try to attract electrons from the 2nd plate; it will be charged with a negative charge -Q. So the plate will carry both the positive and negative charge, but the negative charge will be attracted towards the positive charge. So it will revolt from the 1st plate to the 2nd capacitor. This process will be followed until all plates of the capacitor get connected in series and receive a charge on them. This will be known as a series combination of capacitors, which are connected until the exact charges are received. One more combination of capacitors apart from the series combination of capacitors is the combination of the parallel capacitors. For example, if we consider 3 capacitors with different capacitance connected with parallel, the potential differences across the combination are the same and are known as a combination of parallel capacitors. If each capacitor is connected directly to the power supply source, then the potential difference among each capacitor will be equal to the potential difference applied. Initially, there will be no charge in the plates, but after applying possible differences, it will be charged. The charge of each capacitor will be different due to different capacitance.

Series Combination of Capacitors

The rules or principles of series combination of capacitors are mentioned in the following points.

• Capacitors are connected series between two points, and they can proceed from one point to another through one path
• Capacitors are stand-in series or connected if the charge of individual capacitors is the same
• For each capacitor, the potential differences are different and inversely proportional to their capacitance

• Series combination of capacitors obeys the law of conservation of energy

Capacitors in Series Equation 

The capacitor in the series equation delivers the total capacitance of C as shown by  the equation 1/C= 1/C₁+ 1/C₂ Example of Capacitors In Series Formula While adding a series capacitor, the reciprocal can be 1/C off all individual capacitors. This is the same process for parallel combinations as well. The Capacitors in series formula is, “the total value of the capacitor in the form of series combination will be equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocal of their individual capacitance.” In a series circuit, the pace between the paths is far more apart because of the space between the plates. For example, if the value of capacitors is C₁, C₂, C₃… C_n, the capacitance of C will be presented as, 1/C= 1/C₁+ 1/C₂+ 1/C₃+…

Principle of capacitor

The principle of conductor explains that if an earthed conductor is placed just behind the charged conductor, then the capacity of any system will increase. Capacitors can get connected in Series if the 2nd plate of 1st plate is connected, and next continue. The result will let the capacitors free of the first plate to the first capacitor and the second plate to the last capacitor. The positive charge Q will be on the positive plate of two and the negative  charge -Q will be on another plate of these two capacitors. If we take V₁ and V₂ as the potential of the capacitors, then the output will be V= V₁+ V₂.

Parallel combination of Capacitors

Consider three capacitors C₁, C₂ and C₃ are connected parallel to each other in a circuit. Since in parallel circuit voltage remain same in every branch so using this condition, we can find out equivalent capacitance of this combination by following relation C_eq = C₁ + C₂ + C₃ For n parallel capacitor this relation will be C_eq = C₁ + C₂ + C₃ + ……….+ C_n.

Conclusion

In this article we study two types of circuit combinations of capacitors. Capacitor is an electric device, which can store charge. Due to this property it is used in many electric circuits to enhance functionality of circuits. Capacitors are used in circuits in two types of combination such as series  and parallel combination. Capacitors in series  and parallel combination are explained and their equivalent capacitance formula also defined.