THE OXFORD SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATION

OF CAPACITORS

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Submitted to: Submitted by:

SUBJECT TEACHER NAME NAME: SK. Abu Ettahad

NAVYA NR CLASS: XII A
PGT- PHYSICS ROLL NO:
SUBJECT& CODE: PHYSICS - 042
SESSION:2024-25
THE OXFORD SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
(Affiliated to C. B. S. E., New Delhi)
I Phase, J P Nagar, Bengaluru-560078

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project entitled SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATION OF
CAPACITORS is a bonafide work done by SK. Abu Ettahad of Class XII Science, Session
2024-25 as prescribed by CBSE SSCE Examination 2025 and has been carried out
under my supervision and guidance.

Roll Number :

Date of the Examination :

Signature of the Internal Examiner :

Signature of the External Examiner :

Signature of the Principal :

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to our beloved Principal Mrs. MALA BANERJEE and our Physics

teacher Mrs. NAVYA NR, who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the

topic SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS which also helped me doing a lot of

research and I came to know about so many new things. I am really thankful to them.

Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in finalizing this

project within the limited time frame.

Last but not least , I would like to thank all those who had helped towards the completion of this

project.

SK. Abu Ettahad

Class-XII A
INDEX

S.NO. CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1. INTRODUCTION OF THE PROJECT

2. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

3. HISTORY/THEORY

4. EXPERIMENT

5. PROCEDURE

6. PICTURES AND OBSERVATION

7. CALCULATIONS

8. RESULT

9. SCOPE

10.
PRECATIONS

11.
CONCLUSION

12.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION

Capacitors are fundamental components in electrical and electronic circuits, playing a critical role in
energy storage, filtering, and signal processing. Their behavior in combination, whether in series or
parallel—determines how they share charge, voltage, and energy. Understanding the principles
behind these combinations is essential for practical applications in devices like power supplies,
filters, and resonant circuits.
This project, “To Verify the Laws of Series and Parallel Combination of Capacitors,” investigates
the theoretical and experimental principles governing these combinations. By systematically
analyzing the equivalent capacitance in series and parallel arrangements, the project aims to
confirm the laws that govern them and provide insights into their practical relevance in designing
and optimizing circuits.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this project is to:
1. Verify the laws governing the series and parallel combinations of capacitors through
experimental and theoretical analysis.
2. Measure the equivalent capacitance for both series and parallel configurations using a
multimeter.
3. Compare the experimental results with the theoretically calculated values to understand the
accuracy and reliability of the laws.
4. Explore the practical applications of capacitors in various electrical and electronic systems.

THEORY

1. Parallel Combination of Capacitors:

When capacitors are connected in parallel, the potential difference V across each is the same and
the charge on C1, C2 is different i.e., Q1 and Q2.

Parallel combination of Capacitors

The total charge is Q given as:

Q = Q1 + Q2

Q = C1 / V + C2 / V Q /
V = C1 + C2
Equivalent capacitance between a and b is:

C = C1 + C2

2. Series Combination of Capacitors:

When capacitors are connected in series, the size of charge Q on each capacitor is same. The
potential difference across C1 and C2 is different i.e., V1 and V2.

Series Combination of Capacitors

Q = C 1 V1 = C 2 V2

The total potential difference across combinations is:

V = V1 + V2

V = Q / C1 + Q / C2

V / Q = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2

The ratio Q / V is called as the equivalent capacitance C between point a and b. The equivalent
capacitance C is given by:
1 / C = 1 / C 1 + 1 / C2

EXPERIMENT

AIM: - To verify laws of series and parallel combination of capacitors.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: -
1. Capacitors
2. Multimeter
3. Wire pieces
PROCEDURE

1. Take 2 identical capacitors, measure capacitance of these capacitors by

multimeter.

2. We must connect the first 2 capacitors in parallel (circuit-1) and another 2 in

series(circuit-2).

3. Take a digital multimeter and connect it across the terminals of the prepared circuit-
1 and circuit-2.

4. Set the multimeter over the capacitance option to obtain the value of the
associated capacitance of the circuit.

5. Keep the multimeter at same terminals for a while so that precise value of
capacitance can be seen.

6. Once value of capacitance is obtained on multimeter, compare it with the

theoretically calculated value.

OBSERVATION TABLE

COMBINATION OF EXPERIMENTAL THEORITICAL

CAPACITORS VALUE OF VALUE OF
CAPACITANCE CAPACITANCE

PARALLEL 202.7 200

SERIES 50.1 50

CALCULATIONS

1. PARALLEL
C1 = 100 µF C2

= 100 µF
Net Capacitance in Parallel = C1 + C2 CP =
100 µF + 100 µF

CP = 200 µF

2. SERIES

C1 = 100 µF C2

= 100 µF

Net Capacitance in Series = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2 1 / CS =

1 / 100 + 1 / 100

CS = 50 µ
1) Single Capacitor Value

2) Parallel Combination Value

3) Series Combination Value

RESULT

Capacitance In Parallel (CP) = 202.7

Capacitance In Series (CS) = 50.1

USAGES
1. Capacitors in Parallel
In a parallel combination, the capacitance increases, making them suitable for applications requiring
high energy storage or smooth voltage fluctuations.
a. Energy Storage
 Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): Parallel capacitors are used to store energy and provide
backup power during outages.
 Electric Vehicles (EVs): Capacitors in parallel help store energy during regenerative breaking
and supply power during acceleration.
b. Voltage Stabilization
 Power Supplies: In devices like laptops, televisions, and chargers, parallel capacitors stabilize
the output voltage by filtering out ripples in the power supply.
 Renewable Energy Systems: Solar panels and wind turbines use parallel capacitors to smooth
power output and store excess energy.
2. Capacitors in Series
In a series combination, the voltage rating increases, making them ideal for high-voltage applications.
a. High-Voltage Systems
 Power Transmission Lines: Series capacitors are used to increase voltage ratings and improve
efficiency in long-distance power transmission.
 High-Voltage Circuit Breakers: Series of capacitors limit current spikes in industrial systems.
b. Resonance and Frequency Tuning
 Radios and Oscillators: Series capacitors are used in tuning circuits to select desired
frequencies.
 Impedance Matching: In antenna systems, series capacitors help match impedances to
3. Combination of Series and Parallel Capacitors
 Capacitor Banks: In industrial applications like power factor correction, capacitor banks
combine series and parallel arrangements to optimize energy storage and voltage handling.
 Medical Equipment: Devices like defibrillators use combinations to store and release energy
efficiently.

CONCLUSION

Laws of series and parallel combination of capacitors are verified.

PRECAUTIONS

1.All connections should be tight.

2.Handle the circuit with care.

3.Never apply power to the circuit while measuring resistance with a Multimeter.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Books and References:

o Resnick, R., Halliday, D., & Walker, J. (2013). Fundamentals of Physics. Wiley.

2. Lab Manuals and Practical Guides:

o CBSE Physics Lab Manual for Class XI