OK so this might seem like a dumb question, but I have been toying with it for hours.
Suppose you have this circuit...
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
OK, hopefully we all know how to calculate that, given enough time:
\$V_{c2} = V_{BAT1}/2\$
So I want to measure that to check? How do I do that?
Before you snap-answer the question, remember that any current drawn from the join between \$C_1\$ and \$C_2\$ during that measurement will unbalance the charges on \$C_1\$ and \$C_2\$. When you remove the meter, or circuit, that unbalance will be locked in changing the voltages across \$C_1\$ and \$C_2\$.
Granted, given enough time, leakage current should settle things back to their balanced charge state. But let's assume leakage is very slow compared to your desired measure rate.
The question is, is it possible to repeatedly measure the voltage \$V_{c2}\$ with any real device or circuit? Or is this just one of those weird physics curiosities that has no solution.
EDIT: I realize BIG IMPEDANCES help, and are probable fine for scope/meter measurement, but this is a thought experiment.
EDIT2: I also realize there are electrostatic measuring devices, but I'm more looking for something you can build into a circuit board and monitor it with something.