Capacitor question

[ADWSystems]

Some buddies and I were talking shop and one had a question about a circuit involving some capacitors. Making a long story into a short question, let's say you charged 3 capacitors individually. The first to 0.5V, the second to 1.0V, and the third to 1.5V. What would happen you have if you connected them (charged) in series (+ to -). Would you see 3V (0.5+1.0+1.5)? How much charge would you have assuming all the same value capacitors, 1/3C?

 

[ericgibbs]

hi,
The voltages if the caps where connected in the correct sense would 3V, however the overall capacitance, if the caps were all the value, would be times 0.33'C.

Q= C*V ,, Cs= 0.33 and Vs= 3 .... So Q = 0.33 * 3 = 1

 

[ADWSystems]

There would be 3V at 1/3 with the charge? In t=RC terms, there would be 3V for 1/3 the time (layman's terms here, I know there's more to t=RC)?