Calculating Capacitance in Series & Parallel (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Physics)

Calculating capacitance in series and parallel

• Like resistors, capacitors can be combined in series and parallel

  • Often, circuits may contain combinations of capacitors in both series and parallel arrangements

• In a series arrangement:

  • the reciprocal of the combined capacitance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances

  • the combined capacitance of two identical capacitors is equal to half of the value of each one

  • the combined capacitance is always less than the value of the smallest individual capacitance

• In a parallel arrangement:

  • the combined capacitance is equal to the sum of all the individual capacitances

  • the combined capacitance of two identical capacitors is equal to twice the value of each one

  • the combined capacitance is always greater than the value of the any individual capacitance