A 1 mF, a 2 mF, and a 3 mF capacitor are connected in parallel, the combination being

connected across a 9 volt battery.

(a) Which capacitor has the greatest charge?

(b) Which capacitor has the greatest voltage?

a) the greatest charge will be on C3=3 mF

b) Voltage will be same across each capacitors

Explanation:

Given: C1 = 1 mF, C2 = 2 mF, C3 = 3 mf and V = 9 volts

To Find: greatest charge Q=? and which capacitor has the greatest voltage=?

Solution:

a)

As the voltage across each will be same so (using Q = C V)

Q1 = 1 mF * V

Q2 = 2 mF * V

Q3 = 3 mF * V

so the greatest charge will be on C3=3 mF

b) Voltage will be same across each capacitors

a) the 3mf capacitor has the greatest charge.

b) they all have equal voltage which is 9V

Explanation:

a) the charge on a capacitor is the product of the capacitance and the voltage across the capacitor. It can be written as;

Q = CV

And since they are connected in parallel, the voltage across each capacitor will be the same and equal to 9V

V1 = V2 = V3 = 9V

So,

For capacitors

Q1 = 1mF * 9V = 9mC

Q2 = 2mF * 9V = 18mC

Q3 = 3mF * 9V = 27mC

Therefore, the 3mF capacitor have the highest charge.

b) Since it is a parallel connection, the voltage across each capacitor is the same and equal to 9V.