Question

A 10 F, 20 F, 22 F, and 100 F capacitor are in parallel. What is the total capacitance?

Answer 1

The answer is: `152F`.

• The difference of potential (`DeltaV`) across the two capacitors is the same (the one of the generator);
• Q is divided between the capacitors;
• If `C_1 and C_2 and C_3 and...` are different, so `Q_1 and Q_2 and Q_3 and...` are different.

So:

`C_(eq)=Q/V=(Q_1+Q_2+Q_3+...)/V=Q_1/V+Q_2/V+Q_3/V+...=C_1+C_2+C_3+...`

So:

To find the equivalent capacitor of two or more capacitors in parallel it is necessary to use this formula:

`C_(eq)=C_1+C_2+C_3+...`

In this case:

`C_(eq)=10F+20F+22F+100F=152F`.