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Q.If C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 five capacitors are connected in an electrical circuit as shown in the figure, then calculate the equivalent capacitance of this mesh (network) between point A & point B.

A five-capacitor network: C1 and C2 (40 microfarad) on the top branch, C3 and C4 (20 microfarad) in parallel, and C5 (40 microfarad), between A and B — Class 12 Physics capacitance question
Figure
Rajasthan RbseRajasthan Board Senior Secondary Examination 2022Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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There is NO Wheatstone bridge here — the junction between C1 and C2 has no downward connection, so the network is simply two parallel branches: the top branch (C1 series C2 = 20 µF) in parallel with the bottom branch ((C3 ∥ C4) series C5 = 20 µF), giving C_eq = 40 µF.

Read the circuit correctly. Two independent branches connect A to B:

  • Top branch: C1 = 40 µF in series with C2 = 40 µF.
  • Bottom branch: C3 = 20 µF and C4 = 20 µF in parallel with each other, that combination in series with C5 = 40 µF.

Crucially, the point where C1 and C2 meet is NOT connected down to the bottom branch — there is no bridging capacitor across the middle. So this is not a Wheatstone-bridge network at all; it is just two series branches in parallel.

Top branch (C1 in series with C2):

Ctop=C1C2C1+C2=40×4040+40=20 μFC_{top} = \dfrac{C_1 C_2}{C_1 + C_2} = \dfrac{40 \times 40}{40 + 40} = 20\ \mu F

Bottom branch. First C3 and C4 in parallel:

C3∥C4=20+20=40 μFC_3 \parallel C_4 = 20 + 20 = 40\ \mu F …

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