Capacitors and Charge

[Jay2910]

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Hey guys,

I found this post when I was searching for Capactor questions and I have a question about the question.


If, say, hypothetically you have three CAPACITORS in SERIES( C1=2 uF C2=6 uF C3=3uF)

1) The charge on each capacitor is the same right?
2) What happens to the charges on the capacitors suppose I add another capacitor?( Assuiming its 1uF)

I thought that the charges on each of the capacitors would be the same as each other . .. but the charge would not be the same compared to the original situation.

Is my reasoning right?

Thanks in advance!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=10508241

 

[dontbeanegaton]

Yeah, you're right about both statements. The charges on capacitors in series are always the same. However, the total voltage drop from first to last capacitor is the same in both instances, so if you add another capacitor, the voltage drop for each one must be less. Since the capacitance doesn't change for the ones already there (Q/V) and the V decreases, Q must also decrease.