A capacitor of capacity C₁ charged upto V volt and then connected to an uncharged capacitor C₂. Then final P.D.…

A capacitor of capacity $C_1$ charged upto V volt and then connected to an uncharged capacitor $C_2$. Then final P.D. across each will be
A $\dfrac{C_2V}{C_1 + C_2}$
B $\dfrac{C_1V}{C_1 + C_2}$
C $\left(1 + \dfrac{C_2}{C_1}\right)$
D $\left(1 - \dfrac{C_2}{C_1}\right)V$

Detailed Solution

When two capacitors are connected, charge flows until both are at the same (common) potential. The total charge is conserved.
Common potential: $V_{common} = \dfrac{\text{total charge}}{\text{total capacitance}} = \dfrac{C_1V_1 + C_2V_2}{C_1 + C_2}$
Here $V_1 = V$ and $V_2 = 0$ (uncharged):
$V_{common} = \dfrac{C_1V}{C_1 + C_2}$
So the final p.d. across each capacitor is $\dfrac{C_1V}{C_1 + C_2}$.

Sharing of Charge between Capacitors in past papers

3 questions from this chapter have appeared across 3 exam years.

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Practise Sharing of Charge between Capacitors All 3 questions This chapter in 2002 AIPMT