Question

Two parallel - plate capacitors with C_1 = 3 microFarad and C_2 = 5 microFarad are initially charged to V_1 = 200 Volts and and V_2 = 100 Volts respectively. The capactiros are then reconnected in parallel but with opposite polarities. Find the amount of energy released during the recharging process.

Answer 1

Do the new charges on each capacitor reach an equilibrium and become the same value? That must imply that the voltage across each capacitor is the same.

Answer 2

Yes you are correct :)

Answer 3

Cool, I got .009 J difference before and after recharging. Don't suppose somebody could check that?

Answer 4

furthermore, this doesn't really make sense. If the voltage across each capacitor ends up the same, and the charge across each capacitor ends up the same, then how can we have varying capacitance. Is it just the voltage across each capacitor that equalize and the charge is distributed based on capacitance?

Answer 5

u= c1.c2 .{(v1-v2)square}/2.c1.c2