Series and parallel circuits

@harish3h-xvItJz • Oct 25, 2024

Oct 25, 2024

1.7K

Why is that in a circuit made of series connection of capacitors the total capacitance of capacitors in series is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of their individual capacitances?

why cant it be sum of their individual capacitance as in case of resistors and inductors?

Plz explain this contrary in terms of Parallel circuits too....

Like 0 Replies 7

Replies

Welcome, guest

Join CrazyEngineers to reply, ask questions, and participate in conversations.

CrazyEngineers powered by Jatra Community Platform

reachrkata

@reachrkata-FOcqhH • Nov 30, 2010

There are 2 ways to understand this -

1) Consider the voltage equation of a cap V = 1/C * (integral) i.dt. if there are 2 caps in series you have V1 = 1/C1 * (integral) i.dt and V2 = 1/C2 * (integral) i.dt. Total voltage V = V1+V2 = (1/C1+1/C2) * (integral) i.dt. Now if we have an effective cap Ceff such that the same current i flows through it, V = 1/Ceff * (integral) i.dt. Equating these two you get 1/Ceff = 1/C1 + 1/C2.

2) Adding capacitors in series is like having a single cap with the same plate area as the individual caps and distance between plates as sum of distances of individual caps. That is if C1 = EA/d1, C2 = EA/d2, Ceff = EA/(d1+d2) where E = dielectric constant.
Solve th above equations and you again get 1/Ceff = 1/C1 + 1/C2

For paralle circuits, instead of adding voltages you have to add currents (I = CdV/dt) and you get Ceff = C1+C2.

-Karthik

0
harish3h

@harish3h-xvItJz • Dec 1, 2010

What is the need for considering effective capacitance/resistance/inductance?

In what way does it help building the circuits..

Why do we calculate it?
0
d_vipul

@d-vipul-wP6Syg • Dec 2, 2010

hey harish3h,

actually the response of the whole circuit is depend upon each parameter of circuit.........
so while designing it kept into mind......

Like in OSCILLATOR circuits 3 capacitors are used because one capacitor gives you 60 degree phase shift where as a combination of three gives you 180 degree phase shift.....

Hope this helps you......

Regards.
VIPUL
0
Harshad Italiya

@harshad-ukH5ww • Dec 2, 2010

reachrkata
There are 2 ways to understand this -

1) Consider the voltage equation of a cap V = 1/C * (integral) i.dt. if there are 2 caps in series you have V1 = 1/C1 * (integral) i.dt and V2 = 1/C2 * (integral) i.dt. Total voltage V = V1+V2 = (1/C1+1/C2) * (integral) i.dt. Now if we have an effective cap Ceff such that the same current i flows through it, V = 1/Ceff * (integral) i.dt. Equating these two you get 1/Ceff = 1/C1 + 1/C2.

2) Adding capacitors in series is like having a single cap with the same plate area as the individual caps and distance between plates as sum of distances of individual caps. That is if C1 = EA/d1, C2 = EA/d2, Ceff = EA/(d1+d2) where E = dielectric constant.
Solve th above equations and you again get 1/Ceff = 1/C1 + 1/C2

For paralle circuits, instead of adding voltages you have to add currents (I = CdV/dt) and you get Ceff = C1+C2.

-Karthik

Superb Explanation !
0
reachrkata

@reachrkata-FOcqhH • Dec 4, 2010

Yo thanks !!!
0
shreyasm89

@shreyasm89-jGobVm • Dec 21, 2010

@karthik- best explanation...concise, but complete.😀
0
sachleen

@sachleen-0Mvsq3 • Dec 22, 2010

hey. #-Link-Snipped-#

best explanation!!!!!!!!

0