Resistor-Capacitor (RC) Circuits

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 🔌
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Capacitors in circuits can be simplified into a single equivalent capacitance (). This helps in analyzing complex circuits.
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Series Capacitors:
- The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of individual capacitances:
The equivalent capacitance of series capacitors is always smaller than the smallest individual capacitance.
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Parallel Capacitors:
- The equivalent capacitance is the sum of individual capacitances:
Charge Conservation: In a series connection, each capacitor holds the same magnitude of charge.
Practice Question
Multiple Choice:
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Two capacitors, with capacitances of 2 F and 4 F, are connected in series. What is the equivalent capacitance of this combination? (A) 6 F (B) 3 F (C) 4/3 F (D) 8/3 F (E) 1/6 F
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Three capacitors, each with a capacitance of 3 F, are connected in parallel. What is the equivalent capacitance of this combination? (A) 1 F (B) 3 F (C) 6 F (D) 9 F (E) 27 F
Free Response:
Consider the circuit below, where C1 = 2 F, C2 = 4 F, and C3 = 6 F. The voltage source provides 12V.
(a) Calculate the equivalent capacitance of the circuit. (b) Determine the total charge stored in the circuit. (c) Find the voltage across capacit...

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