Topic explanation

Standard explanation

Capacitors are in series when they are connected end-to-end so that the same charge magnitude appears on each capacitor in the ideal series chain.

Key points

• C_eq = C₁C₂/(C₁+C₂)
• smaller than the smallest individual capacitance
• Vᵢ=QCᵢ
• 1C_eq=Σ1Cᵢ
• Two Capacitors: For series capacitors: Q₁=Q₂=...=Q Total voltage: V=V₁+V₂+... Using: Vᵢ=QCᵢ we ge
• Important Result: Series equivalent capacitance is smaller than the smallest individual capacitance.
• Series equivalent capacitance is less than any individual capacitance.

Labelled diagram