Chapter 23
Problem 51
†
3.0 µF
A
2.0 µF
1.0 µF
B
2.0 µF
Solution
Find the equivalent capacitance.
The two middle capacitors are in parallel. They can be combined to give an equivalent capacitance of
C = C1 + C2 = 2.0 µF + 1.0 µF = 3.0 µF
The circuit is then equivalent to
A
3.0 µF
3.0 µF
B
2.0 µF
In this new circuit there are 3 capacitors in series. This leads to an equivalent capacitance of
1
1
1
1
=
+
+
C
C1 C2 C3
C=
C=
1
1
C1
+
1
C2
+
1
C3
1
1
3.0 µF
+
1
3.0 µF
+
1
2.0 µF
C = 0.857 µF
†
Problem from Essential University Physics, Wolfson