Answer :
Final answer:
The total energy stored in capacitors can be calculated using the formula E = ½ CV^2. For capacitors in series, use the equivalent capacitance, and for parallel, add individual capacitances. Charge in series is the same across all capacitors, while in parallel, each capacitor charges to the full voltage.
Explanation:
To calculate the total energy stored in capacitors when connected in series or parallel, we use the formula for the energy stored in a capacitor: E = ½ CV^2, where E is the energy in joules, C is the capacitance in farads, and V is the voltage in volts.
In series, the total capacitance (Ctotal) is calculated with the formula 1/Ctotal = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3, and the stored energy (E) can be found by plugging the equivalent capacitance and supply voltage into the energy formula.
In parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of individual capacitances (Ctotal = C1 + C2 + C3), and similarly, the energy is calculated using the energy formula with the total capacitance and supply voltage.
Charge on capacitors in series is the same across all capacitors and is calculated by Q = CV. In a parallel connection, each capacitor gets the full voltage and each stores charge according to its own capacitance.
