Question

A capacitor of capacitance C₁ = 1.0 μF withstands the maximum voltage V₁ = 6.0 kV while a capacitor of capacitance C₂ = 2.0 μF, the maximum voltage V₂ = 4.0 kV. What voltage will the system of these two capacitors withstand if they are connected in series?

Answer 1

Amount of charge, that the capacitor of capacitance C₁ can withstand, q₁ = C₁ V₁ and similarly the charge, that the capacitor of capacitance C₂ can withstand, q₁ = C₂ V₂ . But in series combination, charge on both the capacitors will be same, so, q_max, that the combination can withstand = C₁V₁,

as C₁V₂ < C₂V₂ , from the numerical data, given. 

Now, net capacitance of the system,