Let, the equivalent capacitance of the series combination is C eq The equivalent capacitance C eq of the series combination is defined as the capacitance of a single capacitor that can replace the combination capacitors C 1 and C 2 in series. Hence from figure 1 (b), C eq = Q/V
We find the following result for the reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance: The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance of a series combination equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances. In a series connection, the equivalent capacitance is always less than any individual capacitance.
For capacitors connected in a parallel combination, the equivalent (net) capacitance is the sum of all individual capacitances in the network, Cp = C1 +C2 +C3+... (8.3.9) (8.3.9) C p = C 1 + C 2 + C 3 +... Figure 8.3.2 8.3. 2: (a) Three capacitors are connected in parallel. Each capacitor is connected directly to the battery.
The voltage across the capacitor, vc, is not known and must be defined. It could be that vc=0 or that the capacitor has been charged to a certain voltage vc = V . vR - 0 and let’s close the switch at time t = 0 , resulting in the circuit shown on Figure 2. After closing the switch, current will begin to flow in the circuit.
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.
The simple formulae for equivalent series resistance and capacitance, derived empirically from the diffusion equation modeling, were found to accurately reproduce experimental results for model experimental capacitors. Source or connection impedance was found to accurately model a rise in dissipation factor at higher frequencies.