Re: Capacitor - series?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 2/8/04 7:24:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
Original poster: "Luke" <Bluu-at-cox-dot-net>

Ok all this has me a bit confused.
I am STILL of the inclination that:
the two caps WILL NOT see the same voltage
if they are of DIFFERENT VALUES.

Some are saying they will see the same voltage.

What seems to be the verdict among the guys that know their stuff?

Luke Galyan

Hi Luke,
     The answer to your original question is "YES". The voltage drop across 
each cap will be inversly proportional to the capacitance. Smaller 
capacitance will have larger voltage drop. Q1=C1V1=C2V2=Q2. In terms of AC 
voltage and current, V1=IXc, V2=1IXc2.  Phil's suggestion of simple 
measurement for those who aren't convinced by algebra 1, should settle the 
question once and for all. It is a matter of physical fact, not subject to 
debate or opinion. Take two caps of very different size, wire them in 
series with an AC supply and check the voltage across each with a DMM. It 
doesn't have to be thousands of volts to show that the voltage drops are 
radically different. "Careful experiment & measurement is the final arbiter 
of all science."

Matt D.