C1 = 10 ut 100 Volts
10 Hz
C2 = 5 ut
Problem 16. In the circuit, which capacitor has the most charge on its
plates?
Since current is the flow of charge, and at any instant is the same in all parts
of a series circuit, both capacitors must have the identical charge at any instant.
Problem 17. Which capacitor has the most voltage across it?
This problem could be solved by finding the capacitive reactance of the two
capacitors, using it to calculate the total circuit current, and then using the cur-
rent and the reactance of the individual capacitors to find the voltage drop across
each. The easiest way to solve the problem is to rearrange the basic equation for
capacitance, C = Q/E.
E = Q/C
And since you know that the charge (Q) on both capacitors is the same, this
equation shows that the one with the smallest capacitance (C) must have the
largest voltage (E) across it. This fact holds true whenever capacitors are con-
hected in series. The one with the smallest capacitance always has the largest
voltage across it. C, then will drop twice as much voltage as C.