PHYS 1402

General Physics II

EXPERIMENT 2
CAPACITORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL

I. OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this experiment is to measure the equivalent capacitance of sev-
eral capacitors connected in series and parallel. First the individual capacitances
and their equivalent will be measured. Then we will charge the capacitors by con-
necting the combination to a battery and then measuring the voltage across each
capacitor. This will allow us to calculate the charge on the capacitors and then
calculate the equivalent capacitance using the equation C = Q/V.

II. INTRODUCTION:
A capacitor consists of two conducting objects (plates) separated by a nonconduct-
ing medium (dielectric). Figure (1) shows a capacitor connected to a battery. The
capacitance of this capacitor is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the charge
on one of the conducting plates to the potential difference across them.

C = Q/V (1)

+C -

Battery

+ -

Figure 1: Capacitor Connected to a Battery

Capacitors may be combined in series or parallel. Figure (2a) shows three capac-
itors connected in series and connected to a battery. Figure (2b) shows three ca-
pacitors connected in parallel and connected to a battery. Note the polarity in each
case. Theoretically the equivalent capacitance for the series connection is given by

1 1 1 1
= + + (2)
Ceq C1 C2 C3

and that for the parallel connection is given by

Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 . (3)

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III. APPARATUS:
3 capacitors of different values, 6-volt battery, voltmeter, capacitance meter and
connecting wires (leads).

IV. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1. Make sure that each capacitor is discharged (V=0) by connecting a wire lead
across the capacitor for about 30 seconds.

2. Use the capacitance meter to measure the capacitance of each capacitor. Record
the values in your data table.

3. Make sure each capacitor is still discharged by repeating step (1) here.

4. Wire the capacitors in series as shown in Fig (2a) (but do not connect them to
the battery). Pay close attention to the polarity of the capacitors and the way
they are connected. The capacitors used in this experiment are electrolytic
capacitors and the polarity of the plates is important. Make sure the ends of
the lead wires do not come in contact with each other.

C3

+ -

C2

+ -
+C1 - +C2 - +C3 -
C1

+ -

Battery Battery

+ - + -
Figure (2a): Capacitors in Series Figure (2b): Capacitors in Parallel
5. Using a capacitance meter, measure the capacitance of the series combination
(connect the meter to the free ends). This is Ceq,measured.

6. Connect the battery to the series combination of capacitors.

7. Measure the voltage across each capcitor and the battery voltage and record
these values in your data table. You are finished with the series compbina-
tion.

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 8. Disconnect the capacitors, discharge each capacitor as you did before and
wire the circuit in parallel as shown in Fig. (2b) (but do not connect them to
the battery).

9. Using a capacitance meter, measure the capacitance of the parallel combina-

tion. This is Ceq,measured.

10. Connect the battery to the parallel combination of capacitors.

11. Measure the voltage across each capacitor and the voltage across the battery
and record in your data table.

12. Show your data to the intructor or the lab assistant to make sure your data
are OK. If so, you are finished with the experimental procedure.

V. ANALYSIS:

Series connection:

1. For each case calculate the charge on each capacitor using the relation Qi =
Ci Vi where i=1, 2, 3.

2. The values of the charges should be the same within the limits of experimen-
tal error. Find the average value of the charge

1
Qave = ( Q1 + Q2 + Q3 ) (4)
3
This is the charge on the equivalent capacitor.

3. Calculate the experimental equivalent capacitance Ceq = Qave /Vbatt and record
it in the data table.

4. Use eq. (2) to calculate the equivalent capacitance predicted by theory, Ceq,predicted
and record it in the data table.

5. Calculate the percent difference between the equivalent capacitance predicted

by theory and the measured equivalent capacitance
 
Ceq,measured − Ceq,predicted 
% difference = 1
× 100 (5)
2 Ceq,measured + Ceq,predicted

6. Calculate the percent difference between the equivalent capacitance predicted

by theory and the experimental equivalent capacitance, Ceq .

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Parallel connection:

1. For each case calculate the charge on each capacitor.

2. Calculate the total charge, Qtotal = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 .

3. Calculate the experimental equivalent capacitance Ceq = Qtotal /Vbatt and

record it in the data table.

4. Use eq. (3) to calculate the equivalent capacitance predicted by theory, Ceq,predicted
and record it in the data table.

5. Calculate the percent difference between the equivalent capacitance predicted

by theory and the measured equivalent capacitance
 
Ceq,measured − Ceq,predicted 
% difference = 1
× 100 (6)
2 Ceq,measured + Ceq,predicted

6. Calculate the percent difference between the equivalent capacitance predicted

by theory and the experimental equivalent capacitance, Ceq .

7. Write a conclusion summarizing your results. Comment on the success of

this experiment. Explain any percent differences larger than 10%. Is your
result consistent with theoretical predictions? What do you think are the two
most important sources of error?

VII. QUESTIONS:

1. For each connection, calculate the amount of energy stored in each of the
three capacitors. Add up these energies to get the total energy stored in each
of the series and parallel connections.

2. Calculate the amount of energy stored in the equivalent capacitance and

show that this energy is equal to the sum of the energies stored in the in-
dividual capacitors for the series and parallel connections.

3. Which way should capacitors be connected to give you the largest amount of
energy stored.
 Experiment (2) Data Table

SERIES CONNECTION

Capacitance Voltage Charge

C V Q

(mF) (Volts) (mC)

Qave
Ceq = = Vbatt = Qave =
Vbatt
Ceq,measured =

Ceq predicted =

PARALLEL CONNECTION

Qtotal
Ceq = = Vbatt = Qtotal =
Vbatt
Ceq,measured =

Ceq predicted =