NEIEP Mechanics Practice Exam

What will be the total capacitance if two 125 microfarad capacitors are in parallel?

1. 125 microfarads

2. 200 microfarads

3. 250 microfarads

4. 300 microfarads

The correct answer is: 250 microfarads

When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is calculated by simply adding the capacitance values of each capacitor together. In this case, if two capacitors each with a capacitance of 125 microfarads are connected in parallel, you would perform the following calculation: Total capacitance = Capacitance of first capacitor + Capacitance of second capacitor Total capacitance = 125 microfarads + 125 microfarads Total capacitance = 250 microfarads This method reflects the principle that in a parallel connection, each capacitor's capacity to store charge adds directly to the total capacity of the circuit. Hence, the combined capacitance from the two identical capacitors results in a total of 250 microfarads.