Purpose: How does placing more than one capacitor affect voltage drops and charge stored in a circuit?

Select Upload and navigate to the Teacher's Directory to find the file I stored as

R-C Circuit Simulation II. It should look like the screen picture shown below. You may have to reconnect the voltmeter.

a. Close the left hand switch to charge the capacitors.

How does the voltage drop across each capacitor compare?

Check the value of the batteries voltage by right clicking on it. How does the voltage drop across each capacitor compare to the voltage across the battery?

Discharge the capacitors by opening the left switch and closing the right switch. Increase the capacitance of the top capacitor. Repeat the charging process. How does the voltage drop across each capacitor compare?

What is the relationship between the size of the capacitor and the share of voltage it receives?

Does it appear that placing two capacitors in a circuit with one pathway (series circuit) for charge increases or decreases the amount of charge stored? You may need to return to the original circuit from part I to decide.

Select Upload and navigate to the Teacher's Directory to find the file I stored as R-C Circuit Simulation III. It should look like the screen picture shown below. Check the voltmeter connections again.

a. Close the bottom switch to charge the capacitors.

How does the voltage drop across each capacitor compare?

Check the value of the batteries voltage by right clicking on it. How does the voltage drop across each capacitor compare to the voltage across the battery?

Discharge the capacitors by opening the bottom switch and closing the top switch.

Increase the capacitance of the top capacitor. Repeat the charging process. How does the voltage drop across each capacitor compare?

What is the relationship between the size of the capacitor and the share of voltage it receives?

What is the relationship between the size of the capacitor and the amount of charge it stores?

Does it appear that placing two capacitors in a circuit with multiple pathways (parallel circuit) for charge increases or decreases the amount of charge stored? You may need to return to the original circuit from part I to decide.