Question

Three different capacitors are connected in series with a potential source of 1.00 V. The capacitance values of the capacitors are given as c1 = 130 nF, c2 = 205 nF, and c3 = 279 nF. Calculate the voltage across the middle capacitor, c2.

Answer 1

To find the voltage across the second capacitor in series, calculate the total equivalent capacitance, then the charge on the capacitors, and finally use that charge to find the voltage specifically across C2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the voltage across the middle capacitor, C2, in a series circuit, we first need to find the equivalent capacitance of the circuit. In a series circuit the inverse of the equivalent capacitance, Ceq, is the sum of the inverses of the individual capacitances:

C eq = 1 / (1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3)

Using the provided values:

• C1 = 130 nF (nanoFarads)
• C2 = 205 nF
• C3 = 279 nF

We find the equivalent capacitance:

C eq = 1 / (1/130 nF + 1/205 nF + 1/279 nF)

Then, the charge Q on the series combination of capacitors can be calculated using the formula Q = Ceq × V, where V is the total voltage:

V = 1.00 V

The voltage across C2 in a series circuit is given by:

V = Q / C2

After calculating Q we can determine the voltage across C2.