When two or more different capacitors are connected in series across a potential source,which of the following statements must be true? (There could be more than one correct choice. )
A)The total voltage across the combination is the algebraic sum of the voltages across the individual capacitors.
B)Each capacitor carries the same amount of charge.
C)The equivalent capacitance of the combination is less than the capacitance of any of the capacitors.
D)The potential difference across each capacitor is the same.
E)The capacitor with the largest capacitance has the most charge.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A) When capacitors are connected in series, the total voltage across the combination is indeed the algebraic sum of the voltages across each capacitor. This is because the voltage drop across each component adds up to the total voltage supplied by the source.B) In a series circuit, the same charge passes through each capacitor. This is because charge cannot accumulate at any point in the circuit without creating an equal and opposite charge somewhere else in the circuit, leading to a uniform charge distribution across all capacitors.C) The equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series is less than the smallest individual capacitor's capacitance. This is because the inverse of the total capacitance is the sum of the inverses of the individual capacitances, leading to a smaller equivalent capacitance.

When Two or More Different Capacitors Are Connected in Series