If two capacitors of 10 µF and 5 µF are connected in the series, then the value of total capacitance will be less than 5 µF. The connection circuit is shown in the following figure. To get an idea about the equivalent capacitance, Let us now derive the expression of the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors.
Find the total capacitance for three capacitors connected in series, given their individual capacitances are 1.000μF 1.000 μ F, 5.000μF 5.000 μ F, and 8.000μF 8.000 μ F. Because there are only three capacitors in this network, we can find the equivalent capacitance by using Equation 8.7 with three terms.
Note that in a series network of capacitors, the equivalent capacitance is always less than the smallest individual capacitance in the network. A parallel combination of three capacitors, with one plate of each capacitor connected to one side of the circuit and the other plate connected to the other side, is illustrated in Figure 8.12 (a).
The series combination of two or three capacitors resembles a single capacitor with a smaller capacitance. Generally, any number of capacitors connected in series is equivalent to one capacitor whose capacitance (called the equivalent capacitance) is smaller than the smallest of the capacitances in the series combination.
In the first branch, containing the 4µF and 2µF capacitors, the series capacitance is 1.33µF. And in the second branch, containing the 3µF and 1µF capaictors, the series capacitance is 0.75µF. Now in total, the circuit has 3 capacitances in parallel, 1.33µF, 0.75µF, and 6µF.
These two basic combinations, series and parallel, can also be used as part of more complex connections. Figure 8.3.1 8.3. 1 illustrates a series combination of three capacitors, arranged in a row within the circuit. As for any capacitor, the capacitance of the combination is related to both charge and voltage: