Which formula represents the total charge in a series capacitor circuit?

• A. QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
• B. QT = Q1 = Q2 = Q3
• C. QT = Q1 * Q2 * Q3
• D. QT = Q1 / Q2 / Q3

Answer: (B)

In a series capacitor circuit, the total charge stored across each capacitor is the same, which is a fundamental characteristic of capacitors connected in series. This means that the charge ( Q_T ), total charge in the circuit, is equal to the charge stored in any individual capacitor within the series. If you have capacitors ( Q_1 ), ( Q_2 ), and ( Q_3 ), they all hold the same charge, and therefore the total charge is represented by ( Q_T = Q_1 = Q_2 = Q_3 ).

This unique property distinguishes series configurations from parallel configurations, where the total charge can vary and is the sum of the charges on each capacitor. In parallel, the total charge is the sum, leading to a different formula. The use of multiplication and division in other options is not applicable in this context because those operations do not reflect the nature of charge consistency in series-connected capacitors. Therefore, the chosen representation accurately captures the behavior of charge in a series capacitor circuit.