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 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.

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