When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.

When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.

• A. They add
• B. They multiply
• C. They subtract
• D. They divide

Answer: (A)

In a parallel connection, the voltage across each capacitor is the same, and the total charge stored is the sum of the individual charges. Since each capacitor has Q = C V, the total charge is Q_total = C1 V + C2 V + ... = V (C1 + C2 + ...). The equivalent capacitance is defined as Ceq = Q_total / V, which gives Ceq = C1 + C2 + ... . So the total capacitance adds up when capacitors share the same voltage, effectively increasing the ability to store charge at that voltage. This isn’t about multiplying the values; multiplying would imply a different relationship between charge and voltage that doesn’t occur in a parallel arrangement. Subtracting or dividing the capacitances doesn’t reflect how charges accumulate across capacitors connected in parallel.

In a parallel connection, the voltage across each capacitor is the same, and the total charge stored is the sum of the individual charges. Since each capacitor has Q = C V, the total charge is Q_total = C1 V + C2 V + ... = V (C1 + C2 + ...). The equivalent capacitance is defined as Ceq = Q_total / V, which gives Ceq = C1 + C2 + ... . So the total capacitance adds up when capacitors share the same voltage, effectively increasing the ability to store charge at that voltage.

This isn’t about multiplying the values; multiplying would imply a different relationship between charge and voltage that doesn’t occur in a parallel arrangement. Subtracting or dividing the capacitances doesn’t reflect how charges accumulate across capacitors connected in parallel.