Which formula represents total capacitance in a capacitive series circuit?

The formula for total capacitance in a capacitive series circuit is represented by the equation that shows the reciprocal relationship among the individual capacitances. In a series configuration, the total capacitance is found by taking the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of each individual capacitance. This is due to the way capacitors share the same charge and, as a result, the total capacitance is less than any individual capacitor in the series.

When capacitors are connected in series, the voltage across each capacitor can vary, but the charge stored on each capacitor is the same. To find the total capacitance, you can use the formula that states that 1 divided by the total capacitance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances. Therefore, this formula captures the effect of adding capacitors in series, which leads to a total capacitance that is always less than the smallest capacitor in the arrangement.

This principle underpins why the correct choice is the formula that expresses this relationship, contrasting with other forms such as the total capacitance in parallel or equations relating to charge, which do not accurately reflect the characteristics of capacitors in a series arrangement.