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When capacitors are connected in parallel, their plates are connected to the same nodes or points in the circuit. Connecting capacitors in parallel increases the total capacitance of the circuit.
Here are some key points to remember about capacitors in parallel:
Voltage across Capacitors: In a parallel arrangement, the voltage across each capacitor is the same. This is because all points connected together in a parallel configuration have the same potential difference.
Total Capacitance: The total capacitance (C_total) of capacitors connected in parallel is the sum of the individual capacitances (C1, C2, C3, etc.):
C_total = C1 + C2 + C3 + ...
Equivalent Capacitance: The concept of equivalent capacitance can be useful when dealing with multiple capacitors in parallel. The equivalent capacitance is a single capacitor that would have the same effect in the circuit as the parallel combination of capacitors. Mathematically, for two capacitors in parallel (C1 and C2):
1 / C_total = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2
This can be extended for more capacitors.
Charge Distribution: When capacitors are connected in parallel, the charge on each capacitor plate is determined by its capacitance and the applied voltage. The larger capacitor will store more charge compared to the smaller capacitor because Q = CV (charge equals capacitance times voltage).
Energy Storage: The energy stored in each capacitor in parallel is given by the formula:
E = 0.5 * C * V^2
Since the voltage across each capacitor is the same, the energy stored in each capacitor depends on its individual capacitance.
When working with capacitors in parallel, it's important to remember that their total capacitance increases while their voltage rating remains constant. This might be useful in situations where you need to increase the amount of stored energy while keeping the voltage within a certain limit.
As with any electrical circuit, it's important to double-check your calculations and connections to ensure the proper functioning of the circuit and to avoid any safety issues.