3. Capacitors in circuits

a) Students should understand the t = 0 and steady-state behavior of capacitors connected in series or in parallel, so they can:

1) Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a series or parallel combination.

2) Describe how stored charge is divided between capacitors connected in parallel.

3) Determine the ratio of voltages for capacitors connected in series.

4) Calculate the voltage or stored charge, under steady-state conditions, for a capacitor connected to a circuit consisting of a battery and resistors.

b) Students should understand the discharging or charging of a capacitor through a resistor, so they can:

1) Calculate and interpret the time constant of the circuit.

2) Sketch or identify graphs of stored charge or voltage for the capacitor, or of current or voltage for the resistor, and indicate on the graph the significance of the time constant.

3) Write expressions to describe the time dependence of the stored charge or voltage for the capacitor, or of the current or voltage for the resistor.

4) Analyze the behavior of circuits containing several capacitors and resistors, including analyzing or sketching graphs that correctly indicate how voltages and currents vary with time.