\[ \begin{align}\begin{aligned}\newcommand\blank{~\underline{\hspace{1.2cm}}~}\\% Bold symbols (vectors) \newcommand\bs[1]{\mathbf{#1}}\\% Differential \newcommand\dd[2][]{\mathrm{d}^{#1}{#2}} % use as \dd, \dd{x}, or \dd[2]{x}\\% Poor man's siunitx \newcommand\unit[1]{\mathrm{#1}} \newcommand\num[1]{#1} \newcommand\qty[2]{#1~\unit{#2}}\\\newcommand\per{/} \newcommand\squared{{}^2} \newcommand\cubed{{}^3} % % Scale \newcommand\milli{\unit{m}} \newcommand\centi{\unit{c}} \newcommand\kilo{\unit{k}} \newcommand\mega{\unit{M}} % % Percent \newcommand\percent{\unit{{\kern-4mu}\%}} % % Angle \newcommand\radian{\unit{rad}} \newcommand\degree{\unit{{\kern-4mu}^\circ}} % % Time \newcommand\second{\unit{s}} \newcommand\s{\second} \newcommand\minute{\unit{min}} \newcommand\hour{\unit{h}} % % Distance \newcommand\meter{\unit{m}} \newcommand\m{\meter} \newcommand\inch{\unit{in}} \newcommand\foot{\unit{ft}} % % Force \newcommand\newton{\unit{N}} \newcommand\kip{\unit{kip}} % kilopound in "freedom" units - edit made by Sri % % Mass \newcommand\gram{\unit{g}} \newcommand\g{\gram} \newcommand\kilogram{\unit{kg}} \newcommand\kg{\kilogram} \newcommand\grain{\unit{grain}} \newcommand\ounce{\unit{oz}} % % Temperature \newcommand\kelvin{\unit{K}} \newcommand\K{\kelvin} \newcommand\celsius{\unit{{}^\circ C}} \newcommand\C{\celsius} \newcommand\fahrenheit{\unit{{}^\circ F}} \newcommand\F{\fahrenheit} % % Area \newcommand\sqft{\unit{sq\,\foot}} % square foot % % Volume \newcommand\liter{\unit{L}} \newcommand\gallon{\unit{gal}} % % Frequency \newcommand\hertz{\unit{Hz}} \newcommand\rpm{\unit{rpm}} % % Voltage \newcommand\volt{\unit{V}} \newcommand\V{\volt} \newcommand\millivolt{\milli\volt} \newcommand\mV{\milli\volt} \newcommand\kilovolt{\kilo\volt} \newcommand\kV{\kilo\volt} % % Current \newcommand\ampere{\unit{A}} \newcommand\A{\ampere} \newcommand\milliampereA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\mA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\kiloampereA{\kilo\ampere} \newcommand\kA{\kilo\ampere} % % Resistance \newcommand\ohm{\Omega} \newcommand\milliohm{\milli\ohm} \newcommand\kiloohm{\kilo\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\kilohm{\kilo\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx \newcommand\megaohm{\mega\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\megohm{\mega\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx % % Capacitance \newcommand\farad{\unit{F}} \newcommand\F{\farad} \newcommand\microfarad{\micro\farad} \newcommand\muF{\micro\farad} % % Inductance \newcommand\henry{\unit{H}} \newcommand\H{\henry} \newcommand\millihenry{\milli\henry} \newcommand\mH{\milli\henry} % % Power \newcommand\watt{\unit{W}} \newcommand\W{\watt} \newcommand\milliwatt{\milli\watt} \newcommand\mW{\milli\watt} \newcommand\kilowatt{\kilo\watt} \newcommand\kW{\kilo\watt} % % Energy \newcommand\joule{\unit{J}} \newcommand\J{\joule} % % Composite units % % Torque \newcommand\ozin{\unit{\ounce}\,\unit{in}} \newcommand\newtonmeter{\unit{\newton\,\meter}} % % Pressure \newcommand\psf{\unit{psf}} % pounds per square foot \newcommand\pcf{\unit{pcf}} % pounds per cubic foot \newcommand\pascal{\unit{Pa}} \newcommand\Pa{\pascal} \newcommand\ksi{\unit{ksi}} % kilopound per square inch \newcommand\bar{\unit{bar}} \end{aligned}\end{align} \]

Dec 04, 2025 | 385 words | 4 min read

7.3.2. Task 2

Learning Objectives

Create and execute simple scripts comprised of basic Python concepts; Output data from a script to the screen in Python; Apply this course’s programming standards in development of Python scripts; Modularize and comment code in Python for readability and reusability.

Task Instructions

You may recall from your high school physics class that a capacitor is an electrical component that stores energy in an electric field. Capacitors are commonly used in electronic circuits to store and release energy, filter signals, and stabilize voltage levels. The value of a capacitor’s capacitance is given by \(C\) (with unit Farads \([\farad]\)).

In circuits with many components, we can calculate an equivalent capacitance for the entire circuit using the individual capacitances of each component. Knowing this equivalent capacitance can make calculating other properties of the circuit much easier.

We frequently encouter two electrical circuit topologies: series and parallel. For each type, one can calculate a total capacitance for the entire circuit, but the two are calculated differently. The total capacitance for series capacitors is calculated as shown in (7.4), while that for parallel capacitors is shown in (7.5).

(7.4)\[\frac{1}{C_\text{total}} = \frac{1}{C_1} + \frac{1}{C_2} + \cdots + \frac{1}{C_n} \quad\text{(Series)}\]

(7.5)\[C_\text{total} = C_1 + C_2 + \cdots + C_n \quad\text{(Parallel)}\]

Create a program to calculate the total capacitance of two capacitors arranged in series and in parallel. The program should output the results for both series AND parallel calculations. The value of the first capacitor’s capacitance should be an input from the user, while the second capacitor’s capacitance should be hardcoded as \(\qty{e^3\sqrt[]{5}}{\mu\farad}\) where \(e\) is Euler’s number .

A flowchart illustrating your program’s logic should be created and saved in a PDF file named py1_ind_2_username.pdf. Start your Python script from ENGR133_Python_Template.py and save it as py1_ind_2_username.py. Use the sample output section below to verify that your program outputs correct values.

Sample Output

Use the values in Table 7.11 below to test your program.

Table 7.11 Test Cases

Case	Capacitor 1
1	10
2	30

Ensure your program’s output matches the provided samples exactly. This includes all characters, white space, and punctuation. In the samples, user input is highlighted like this for clarity, but your program should not highlight user input in this way.

Case 1 Sample Output

$ python3 py1_ind_2_username.py Input the capacitance of the first capacitor [μF]: 10 Type First Second Total Series 10.0 μF 44.9 μF 8.2 μF Parallel 10.0 μF 44.9 μF 54.9 μF

Case 2 Sample Output

$ python3 py1_ind_2_username.py Input the capacitance of the first capacitor [μF]: 30 Type First Second Total Series 30.0 μF 44.9 μF 18.0 μF Parallel 30.0 μF 44.9 μF 74.9 μF

Hints

• Use f-strings to format your output.

• Line your output values up by setting a width in your f-string. For example, f"{value:10.2f}" will format the value to have a width of \(10\) characters and \(2\) decimal places.

• Entering \u03bc in a string will produce the \(\mu\) symbol.

Table 7.12 Deliverables

Deliverables	Description
py1_ind_2_username.pdf	Flowchart(s) for this task.
py1_ind_2_username.py	Your completed Python code.