Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

Which of the following components should be added to a capacitor to increase the capacitance?

1. An inductor in series

2. A resistor in series

3. A capacitor in parallel

4. A capacitor in series

The correct answer is: A capacitor in parallel

To enhance the capacitance of a capacitor, connecting another capacitor in parallel is indeed the correct approach. When capacitors are added in parallel, their capacitance values simply sum up. This characteristic allows for greater overall capacitance, which can be particularly beneficial in applications where increased charge storage is needed. In contrast, connecting a capacitor in series results in a decrease in overall capacitance. The formula for capacitors in series indicates that the total capacitance is less than the smallest individual capacitor in the series. Therefore, this does not support the goal of increasing capacitance. The use of an inductor or a resistor in series with a capacitor does not serve to increase capacitance. An inductor introduces inductance to the circuit, which could change the behavior of the circuit at different frequencies but does not contribute to increased capacitance. Similarly, adding a resistor would affect the resistance within the circuit, influencing the current flow and the time constant but not increasing the capacitance itself. Thus, combining additional capacitors in parallel is the key method for increasing overall capacitance effectively in a circuit.