Summary A capacitor is an electric device or circuit element that stores charge and energy. The capacitance of the capacitor is given by
C = ![]()
The electric potential energy stored in a capacitor is given by
PEcap = 1/2 QV = 1/2 CV2 = 1/2 Q2/C Capacitors in series or parallel may be replaced by a single equivalent capacitor whose value can be calculated by
=
+ ... (series capacitors)
Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 + ... (parallel capacitors)
(c) Doug Davis, 2002; all rights reserved
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