Question

When two or more capacitors are connected in parallel across a potential difference

A) the potential difference across each capacitor is the same.
B) each capacitor carries the same amount of charge.
C) the equivalent capacitance of the combination is less than the capacitance of any of the capacitors.
D) All of the above choices are correct.
E) None of the above choices are correct.

Answer 1

When capacitors are connected in parallel across a potential difference, the potential difference across each capacitor is the same. This is because the potential difference is determined by the voltage source and is the same across all parts of the circuit that are connected in parallel. Additionally, each capacitor carries the same amount of charge because the charge is distributed evenly across all capacitors. The equivalent capacitance of the combination is actually greater than the capacitance of any of the individual capacitors since the total area of the plates increases when they are connected in parallel. Therefore, choice E is the correct answer.