Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 19 - DC Circuits - Problems - Page 554: 50

Answer

$V_1=2.8V$

Work Step by Step

We want a minimum voltage drop across capacitor $C_1$. From equation $V=\frac{Q}{C}$, we can see that voltage is inversely porportional to capacitance. Thereofre the smallest capacitance, $C_2$ will have the largest voltage drop when connected in series with the battery. To minimize voltage drop across $C_1$, the equivalent capacitance of $C_{1,2}$ must be maximum, so we connect them in parallel. $C_{eq}=\Big(\frac{1}{2.0\mu F+3.0\mu F}+\frac{1}{1.5\mu F}\Big)^{-1}=1.15\mu F$ $Q_{eq}=Q_2=C_{eq}V=(1.15\mu F)(12V)=13.8C$ $V_2=\frac{Q_2}{C_2}=\frac{13.8C}{1.5\mu F}=9.2V$ $V_{1,3}C_{1,3}=V_2C_2$ $V_{1,3}=\frac{V_2C_2}{C_{1,3}}=\frac{(9.2V)(1.5\mu F)}{5.0\mu F}=2.8V$ Because they are connected in parallel, voltage drop across $C_1$ is equal to the voltage drop across $C_3$
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