Question

Draw a circuit using schematic symbols with a 10.0 v battery, a switch, a R=10Ω resistor, and capacitors C1= 4.00 µF and C2= 8.00 µF in series. What is the maximum charge stored in each capacitor and the voltage across each capacitor?

Answer 1

The two capacitors can be replaced with a single one having C,

C = 4 x 8 / ( 4 + 8) = 2.67 mu F

The maximum charge on a capacitor accumulates after a very long duration. At this time the voltage across capacitor is equal to the battery voltage.

Vc = Vb

V1 + V2 = 10

Q1 = Q2

C1V1 = C2V2

4V1 = 8V2

V1 = 2V2

2V2 + V2 = 10

V2 = 3.33 Volts

Q2 = C2V2 = 8 muF x 3.33 = 26.64 mu C

V1 = 2 x V2 = 2 x 3.33 = 6.66 V

Q1 = C1V1 = 4 x 6.66 = 26.64 mu C

Hence, Q1 = Q2 = 26.64 mu C and V1 = 6.66 Volts and V2 = 3.33 Volts.