How do capacitors behave in series versus parallel configurations?

In series, the total capacitance decreases, while in parallel, the total capacitance increases.

When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance (C_total) is less than the capacitance of any individual capacitor. This is because the charge stored on each capacitor must be the same, and the voltage across each capacitor adds up to the total voltage. The formula for total capacitance in series is 1/C_total = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + ... + 1/Cn. This means that the total capacitance is always less than the smallest capacitance in the series.

On the other hand, when capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance increases. This is because the total charge stored is the sum of the charges stored on each capacitor, and the voltage across each capacitor is the same. The formula for total capacitance in parallel is C_total = C1 + C2 + ... + Cn. This means that the total capacitance is equal to the sum of the individual capacitances.

In a series configuration, the capacitors share the same charge. This is because the charge cannot escape the circuit, and so it must be the same on all capacitors. However, the voltage across each capacitor can vary, depending on the capacitance. The capacitor with the largest capacitance will have the smallest voltage across it, and vice versa.

In a parallel configuration, the capacitors share the same voltage. This is because they are all connected directly to the same two points, and so the voltage across each capacitor must be the same. However, the charge stored on each capacitor can vary, depending on the capacitance. The capacitor with the largest capacitance will store the most charge, and vice versa.

In summary, the behaviour of capacitors in series and parallel configurations is quite different. In series, the total capacitance decreases and the capacitors share the same charge but have different voltages. In parallel, the total capacitance increases and the capacitors share the same voltage but store different amounts of charge. Understanding these differences is crucial for analysing circuits that contain capacitors.