Determine all the values of equivalent capacitance you can create using any combination of three identical capacitors with capacitance \(C\).

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The possible equivalent capacitance values are: 1. All capacitors in series: \(C_{eq1} = \frac{C}{3}\) 2. Two capacitors in parallel, and the third one in series: \(C_{eq2} = \frac{2C}{3}\) 3. All capacitors in parallel: \(C_{eq3} = 3C\)

Step by step solution

01

Case 1: All capacitors in series

When all three capacitors are connected in series, the equivalent capacitance C_eq1 can be found using the formula: \(\frac{1}{C_{eq1}} = \frac{1}{C} + \frac{1}{C} + \frac{1}{C}\) Which simplifies to: \(\frac{1}{C_{eq1}} = \frac{3}{C}\) And then: \(C_{eq1} = \frac{C}{3}\)
02

Case 2: Two capacitors in parallel, and the third one in series

When two capacitors are connected in parallel and the third one is connected in series with this pair, the equivalent capacitance C_eq2 can be found using the following steps: 1. Find the equivalent capacitance of the two capacitors in parallel (C_12). The formula for the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in parallel is: \(C_{12} = C + C = 2C\) 2. Now, find the equivalent capacitance of C_12 and the third capacitor C connected in series. Using the formula for the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series: \(\frac{1}{C_{eq2}} = \frac{1}{C_{12}} + \frac{1}{C}\) Substitute the value of C_12: \(\frac{1}{C_{eq2}} = \frac{1}{2C} + \frac{1}{C}\) Simplifying, we get: \(\frac{1}{C_{eq2}} = \frac{3}{2C}\) And then: \(C_{eq2} = \frac{2C}{3}\)
03

Case 3: All capacitors in parallel

When all three capacitors are connected in parallel, the equivalent capacitance C_eq3 can be found using the formula: \(C_{eq3} = C + C + C = 3C\)
04

Summary

There are three possible equivalents capacitances that can be created using any combination of three identical capacitors with capacitance C: 1. All capacitors in series: \(C_{eq1} = \frac{C}{3}\) 2. Two capacitors in parallel, and the third one in series: \(C_{eq2} = \frac{2C}{3}\) 3. All capacitors in parallel: \(C_{eq3} = 3C\) These are all the possible values of equivalent capacitance that can be created using three identical capacitors with capacitance C.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The space between the plates of an isolated parallel plate capacitor is filled with a slab of dielectric material. The magnitude of the charge \(Q\) on each plate is kept constant. If the dielectric material is removed from between the plates, the energy stored in the capacitor a) increases. c) decreases. b) stays the same. d) may increase or decrease.

A \(1.00-\mu \mathrm{F}\) capacitor charged to \(50.0 \mathrm{~V}\) and a \(2.00-\mu \mathrm{F}\) capacitor charged to \(20.0 \mathrm{~V}\) are connected, with the positive plate of each connected to the negative plate of the other. What is the final charge on the \(1.00-\mu \mathrm{F}\) capacitor?

A large parallel plate capacitor with plates that are square with side length \(1.00 \mathrm{~cm}\) and are separated by a distance of \(1.00 \mathrm{~mm}\) is dropped and damaged. Half of the areas of the two plates are pushed closer together to a distance of \(0.500 \mathrm{~mm}\). What is the capacitance of the damaged capacitor?

Which of the following capacitors has the largest charge? a) a parallel plate capacitor with an area of \(10 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) and a plate separation of \(2 \mathrm{~mm}\) connected to a \(10-\mathrm{V}\) battery b) a parallel plate capacitor with an area of \(5 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) and a plate separation of \(1 \mathrm{~mm}\) connected to a \(10-\mathrm{V}\) battery c) a parallel plate capacitor with an area of \(10 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) and a plate separation of \(4 \mathrm{~mm}\) connected to a \(5-\mathrm{V}\) battery d) a parallel plate capacitor with an area of \(20 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) and a plate separation of \(2 \mathrm{~mm}\) connected to a \(20-\mathrm{V}\) battery e) All of the capacitors have the same charge.

Considering the dielectric strength of air, what is the maximum amount of charge that can be stored on the plates of a capacitor that are a distance of \(15 \mathrm{~mm}\) apart and have an area of \(25 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) ?

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