b) Series and parallel

c) total capacitance of two or more capacitors in series; 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 +…

d) total capacitance of two or more capacitors in parallel; C = C1 + C2 +…

for capacitors connected in series…

• the total p.d. = the sum of the individual p.d.s

• the charge stored by each capacitor is equal

• their total capacitance is less than the individual capacitances

1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 +…

for capacitors connected in parallel

• the p.d. across each capacitor is equal

• the total charge = the sum of the individual charges

• the total capacitance = the sum of the individual capacitances

C = C1 + C2 + C3 +…