\[ \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}}
\newcommand\pound{\unit{lbs}}
%
% Temperature
\newcommand\kelvin{\unit{K}}
\newcommand\K{\kelvin}
\newcommand\celsius{\unit{{\kern-4mu}^\circ C}}
\newcommand\C{\celsius}
\newcommand\fahrenheit{\unit{{\kern-4mu}^\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} \]
Apr 28, 2026 | 385 words | 4 min read
11.3.2. 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 (11.1), while that for parallel capacitors is
shown in (11.2).
(11.1)\[\frac{1}{C_\text{total}} = \frac{1}{C_1} + \frac{1}{C_2} + \cdots + \frac{1}{C_n}
\quad\text{(Series)}\]
(11.2)\[C_\text{total} = C_1 + C_2 + \cdots + C_n
\quad\text{(Parallel)}\]
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 11.11
below to test your program.
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.
