Final answer:
The total capacitance of capacitors connected in parallel is equal to the sum of all the individual capacitances and is always greater than the highest rated individual capacitor's capacitance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When different rated capacitors are connected in parallel in a circuit, the total capacitance, often represented by Cp, is equal to the sum of all the individual capacitances. For example, if you have three capacitors with values of 1.000 µF, 5.000 µF, and 8.000 µF, the total capacitance would be calculated as follows:
Cp = 1.000 µF + 5.000 µF + 8.000 µF = 14.000 µF
This principle applies regardless of the number of capacitors connected in parallel, as per the expression Cp = C1 + C2 + C3 + ... and so on. Thus, the total capacitance is always greater than the capacitance of the highest rated individual capacitor in the configuration.