Assume a device is designed to obtain a large potential difference by first charging a bank of capacitors connected in parallel and then activating a switch arrangement that in effect disconnects the capacitors from the charging source and from each other and reconnects them all in a series arrangement. The group of charged capacitors is then discharged in series. What is the maximum potential difference that can be obtained in this manner by using ten 500

8 kV

Explanation:

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Assume a device is designed to obtain a large potential difference by first charging a bank of capacitors connected in parallel and then activating a switch arrangement that in effect disconnects the capacitors from the charging source and from each other and reconnects them all in a series arrangement. The group of charged capacitors is then discharged in series. What is the maximum potential difference that can be obtained in this manner by using ten 500 μF capacitors and an 800−V charging source?

Solution

Since the capacitors are initially connected in parallel, the same voltage of 800 V is applied to each capacitor. The charge on each capacitor Q = CV where C = capacitance = 500 μF and V = voltage = 800 V

So, Q = CV

= 500 × 10⁻⁶ F × 800 V

= 400000 × 10⁻⁶ C

= 0.4 C

Now, when the capacitors are connected in series and the voltage disconnected, the voltage across is capacitor is gotten from Q = CV

V = Q/C

= 0.4 C/500 × 10⁻⁶ F

= 0.0008 × 10⁶ V

= 800 V

The total voltage obtained across the ten capacitors is thus V' = 10V (the voltages are summed up since the capacitors are in series)

= 10 × 800 V

= 8000 V

= 8 kV

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