Question

Two equal capacitors are first connected in series and then in parallel The ratio of the equivalent capacities in the two cases will be ______.

Options

• 2 : 1

• 1 : 4

• 4 : 1

• 1 : 2

Answer 1

Two equal capacitors are first connected in series and then in parallel The ratio of the equivalent capacities in the two cases will be 1 : 4.

Explanation:

Case I: Series connection,

`1/"C"_1 = 1/"C" +1/"C" = 2/"C"`

⇒ C₁ = `"C"/2`

Case II: Parallel connection,

C₂ = C + C 

= 2C

Hence, the required ratio,

`"C"_1/"C"_2 = 1/4`