Electrostatic Potential & Capacitance
Class 12 · Electrostatic Potential & Capacitance

Capacitors in Series

1/C_eq = Σ 1/Cᵢ. Same Q. Voltage divides inversely with C.

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Key Notes

01

In series: same charge Q on each capacitor (charge conservation).

02

Voltages add: V_total = ΣVᵢ.

03

1/C_eq = Σ1/Cᵢ. Equivalent capacitance is smaller than the smallest.

Formulas

Series

Reciprocal addition.

Voltage division

Larger C → smaller V.

Important Points

Useful for high-voltage applications: spreads V across multiple caps.

Two equal caps in series: C_eq = C/2.

Capacitors in Series notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 12 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.