AC1 Fundamentals Unit 6 – Capacitance
Exercise 2 – Capacitors in Series and in Parallel
EXERCISE OBJECTIVE
When you have completed this exercise, you will be able to determine total capacitance by using
circuits that have capacitors in series and in parallel. You will verify your results with an
oscilloscope.
DISCUSSION
- Capacitors that are in series have a total capacitance that is the inverse of the sum of the
reciprocals. If only two capacitors are in series the product-over-sum method can be used. - Total capacitance decreases as more series capacitors are added, resulting in a higher
impedance and a lower circuit current. - Capacitors that are in parallel have a total capacitance that is the sum of the capacitor values.
- Total capacitance increases as additional parallel capacitors are connected, resulting in a
lower impedance and higher circuit current.