You have three capacitors, each of 2 µC. In which of the following combinations of the three capacitors, the resultant capacitance is 3µC?
Correct answer: B. Two capacitors are in series, one in parallel
- A. All three capacitors in series
- B. Two capacitors are in series, one in parallel
- C. Two capacitors are in parallel, one in series
- D. All three capacitors in parallel
Explanation
b) Two capacitors are in series, one in parallel: Let's say C_a and C_b are the two capacitors in series, and C_c is the capacitor in parallel. The total capacitance (C_total) in this combination is given by:1 / C_total = 1 / (C_a + C_b) +C_cSubstituting the values:1 / C_total = (1 /2 µC + 1/2µC) + 2 µC= 4/4 µC + 2 µC= 3 µCC_total = 3µC The total capacitance when two capacitors are in series and one in parallel is 3 µC so this option is correct.
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Electrostatics describes forces between charges through Coulomb's law, electric fields and field intensity, then uses electric potential to measure energy per unit charge. Capacitors store charge and electrical energy, with capacitance depending on geometry and dielectric material, not simply on the amount of charge present.
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