(:Summary:Contains the 'action' links (like Browse, Edit, History, etc.), placed at the top of the page, see site page actions:) (:comment This page can be somewhat complex to figure out the first time you see it. Its contents are documented at PmWiki.SitePageActions if you need help. :) * Print (:comment (:if group Site,SiteAdmin,Cookbook,Profiles,PmWiki*:) (:comment delete if and ifend to enable backlinks:) * %item rel=nofollow class=backlinks accesskey='$[ak_backlinks]'% [[{*$Name}?action=search&q=link={*$FullName} | $[Backlinks] ]] (:ifend:) :) * Login

Capacitors in Series

<^< Capacitor Construction | Course Index | Capacitors in Parallel >^>(:nl:)

When two capacitors are connected in series, the same charge is present on each of them and the effective capacitance of the circuit will always be less than any one of the two capacitors taken alone. The effective capacitance, C, of a circuit with two capacitors, C'_1_' and C'_2_', connected in series is given by:

1 / C = 1 / C'_1_' + 1 / C'_2_'

Similarly, where three capacitors (C'_1_', C'_2_', and C'_3_') are connected in series, the effective capacitance of the combined circuit will be given by:

1 / C = 1 / C'_1_' + 1 / C'_2_' + 1 / C'_3_'

In the case of two capacitors, the formula can be more conveniently re-arranged as follows:

C = (C'_1_' x C'_2_') / (C'_1_' + C'_2_')

This can be remembered as "product over sum". (:nl:)(:table style="clear:both":)