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Writer's picturekeshprad

CollegeBoard SAT Physics Study Guide PT1 Q58


58) Question 58 asks us to find the voltage across each capacitor in the situation aboveThere are two formulas for calculating voltage that we need to know to solve this problem.

Where V is voltage

Since the voltage in parallel formula says there will be the same voltage across all lines connected in parallel, we know the change in voltage from A to B is 6, whether the current flows through C[1], or it flows through C[2] and C[3]. Let’s draw this out!

Where V is voltage and C is capacitance

Since C[1] is the only capacitor connected in that series, the voltage across will be 6V. However, since there are 2 capacitors connected in series, we cannot say that the voltage across C[2] or across C[3] is 6V. Let’s use the voltage in series formula to solve for the voltage across those capacitors.

Where V is voltage and C is capacitance

Now we have solved for the voltage across each of the capacitors!

V[1] = 6V; V[2] = 3V; V[3] = 3V


Answer: C

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