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Resistor-Capacitor (RC) Circuits

Mia Gonzalez

Mia Gonzalez

8 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers RC circuits, focusing on equivalent capacitance (series and parallel), RC circuit behavior including the time constant, charging/discharging processes, and Kirchhoff's loop rule. It includes practice questions and exam tips covering common question types, calculations, and analysis of charge, current, and voltage changes over time.

AP Physics C: E&M - RC Circuits Study Guide ⚡

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP exam with a focused review of RC circuits. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the test. We'll break down the key concepts, highlight important formulas, and give you some exam-busting tips. Let's do this!

Equivalent Capacitance

Capacitor Combinations 🔌

  • Capacitors in circuits can be simplified into a single equivalent capacitance (CeqC_{eq}). This helps in analyzing complex circuits.

  • Series Capacitors:

    • The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of individual capacitances: 1Ceq, s=i1Ci\frac{1}{C_{\text{eq, s}}} = \sum_{i} \frac{1}{C_i}
Quick Fact

The equivalent capacitance of series capacitors is always smaller than the smallest individual capacitance.

  • Parallel Capacitors:

    • The equivalent capacitance is the sum of individual capacitances: Ceq, p=iCiC_{\text{eq, p}} = \sum_{i} C_i
Key Concept

Charge Conservation: In a series connection, each capacitor holds the same magnitude of charge.

Practice Question

Multiple Choice:

  1. Two capacitors, with capacitances of 2 μ\muF and 4 μ\muF, are connected in series. What is the equivalent capacitance of this combination? (A) 6 μ\muF (B) 3 μ\muF (C) 4/3 μ\muF (D) 8/3 μ\muF (E) 1/6 μ\muF

  2. Three capacitors, each with a capacitance of 3 μ\muF, are connected in parallel. What is the equivalent capacitance of this combination? (A) 1 μ\muF (B) 3 μ\muF (C) 6 μ\muF (D) 9 μ\muF (E) 27 μ\muF

Free Response:

Consider the circuit below, where C1 = 2 μ\muF, C2 = 4 μ\muF, and C3 = 6 μ\muF. The voltage source provides 12V.

Circuit Diagram

(a) Calculate the equivalent capacitance of the circuit. (b) Determine the total charge stored in the circuit. (c) Find the voltage across capacit...

Question 1 of 9

Two capacitors, with capacitances of 3 μ\muF and 6 μ\muF, are connected in series. What is the equivalent capacitance of this combination? 🤔

9 μ\muF

2 μ\muF

18 μ\muF

0.5 μ\muF