Question

Three identical capacitors are connected in series across a potential source (battery). If a charge of Q flows into this combination of capacitors, how much charge does each capacitor carry?

a.Q
b.3Q
c.Q/9
d.Q/3

Answer 1

In a series circuit of capacitors, each identical capacitor carries the same charge that flows into the combination, which is Q.

Step-by-step explanation:

When three identical capacitors are connected in series across a potential source and a charge of Q flows into this combination, each capacitor will carry a charge of Q. In a series circuit, charge is conserved so that the total charge is the same on each capacitor as the charge has only one path to flow through. Therefore, each capacitor will have the same charge as the charge flowing into the series combination from the battery, which is Q.

Answer 2

a) Q

Step-by-step explanation:

• If the capacitors are connected in series, across a potential source (battery) , the battery voltage is divided between the capacitors, as follows:

`V = V_(1) + V_(2) +V_(3)`

• By definition, each voltage is related with the capacitance and the charge, as follows:

`V = V_(1) + V_(2) +V_(3) = (Q_(1) )/(C_(1)) + (Q_(2) )/(C_(2)) + (Q_(3) )/(C_(3))`

• Now, due to the principle of conservation of charge, this can't neither accumulate nor dissapear at any point in the circuit, so the charge must be the same for each capacitor:

`Q = Q_(1) = Q_(2) = Q_(3)`