Series and Parallel Capacitors, Study notes of Physics

Download Series and Parallel Capacitors and more Study notes Physics in PDF only on Docsity!

PHYS 2426 Engineering Physics IT EXPERIMENT 2 CAPACITORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL I. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this experiment is to measure the equivalent capacitance of several capacitors connected in series and parallel. This will be done in two ways. First, by direct measurement using a capacitance meter. Second, by using the definition C = Q/V. IL. INTRODUCTION: A capacitor consists of two conducting objects (plates) separated by a nonconducting medium (dielectric). Figure (1) shows a capacitor connected to a battery. The capacitance of this capacitor is defined as the ratio of the charge on the conducting plates to the potential difference across them. C=Q/V (1) +4 q } I | | + B atkerd Figure (1) Capacitors may be combined in series or parallel. Figure (2a) shows three capacitors connected in series and connected to a battery. Figute (2b) shows three capacitors connected in parallel and connected to a battery. Note the polarity in each case. Theoretically the equivalent capacitance for the series connection is given by Dota © Ca Atate ) and that for the paraliel connection is given by Cog = Ci + Crt Co. (3) 1