Lesson Plan: Capacitors in Series and in Parallel Physics
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to calculate the total capacitance of multiple capacitors connected in series and in parallel combinations.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- use the formula for capacitors in parallel,
- use the formula for capacitors in series,
- recognize that capacitors in series store equal charge,
- recognize that the voltage across capacitors in series is in inverse ratio to the ratio of their capacitances,
- recognize that the rule of equal voltages across parallel branches applies when the branches contain capacitors.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- the fact that ,
- the fact that the current in a series circuit is the same through all components in the circuit,
- the fact that potential drops across parallel circuit branches are the same across all the branches,
- the fact that for resistors in series,
- the fact that for resistors in parallel.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- the calculation of the rate of charge/discharge of capacitors,
- the size/shape/material properties of capacitors.