When two or more different capacitors are connected in series across a potential source, which of the following statements must be true? (There could be more than one correct choice.)
A) The total voltage across the combination is the algebraic sum of the voltages across the individual capacitors.
B) The capacitor with the largest capacitance has the most charge.
C) Each capacitor carries the same amount of charge.
D) The equivalent capacitance of the combination is less than the capacitance of any of the capacitors.
E) The potential difference across each capacitor is the same.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A) When capacitors are connected in series, the total voltage across the combination is indeed the sum of the voltages across each capacitor, as the voltage drops add up across each component in the series.C) In a series circuit, the same charge flows through each capacitor. The charge on each capacitor is the same because the charge that accumulates on the plates of one capacitor must move through the circuit, accumulating on the next capacitor, and so on.D) The equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series is always less than the smallest individual capacitor in the series. This is because the inverse of the total capacitance is the sum of the inverses of the individual capacitances.

When Two or More Different Capacitors Are Connected in Series