Final answer:
The voltage across the first capacitor in a series, ∆v1, is found using the equation ∆v1 = Q/C1, where Q represents the charge and C1 is the capacitance of the first capacitor. In parallel, all capacitors have the same voltage, which would just be the total applied voltage ∆v.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, particularly in the study of circuits, the voltage across a capacitor is determined by the charge (Q) stored on it and its capacitance (C), following the equation V = Q/C. For a series of capacitors with a total voltage ∆v, the voltage across each capacitor is dependent on its individual capacitance. When capacitors are connected in series, they all have the same charge (Q), but the voltage across each can vary. Given the total voltage and the capacitance of each capacitor, to find the voltage across the first capacitor (referred to as ∆v1), you use the equation ∆v1 = Q/C1, where C1 is the capacitance of the first capacitor.
When capacitors are connected in parallel, each one has the same voltage across it, equal to the total applied voltage (∆v). So, if you had a scenario with three capacitors in parallel, the voltage across each one, including ∆v1, would simply be ∆v.