All Flashcards
What is the effect of increasing the resistance in an RC circuit?
Increasing resistance increases the time constant, slowing down the charging/discharging process.
What is the effect of increasing the capacitance in an RC circuit?
Increasing capacitance increases the time constant, slowing down the charging/discharging process and allowing it to store more charge.
What is the effect of reaching steady state in a DC circuit with a capacitor?
The capacitor blocks DC current, acting like an open circuit.
What happens if a capacitor is uncharged in a circuit?
Current flows freely through the circuit.
What is the effect of connecting capacitors in parallel?
The total capacitance increases, allowing the circuit to store more charge at a given voltage.
Compare capacitors in series vs. parallel regarding total charge.
Series: Charge is the same on each capacitor. Parallel: Total charge is the sum of charges on each capacitor.
Compare capacitors in series vs. parallel regarding total capacitance.
Series: Reciprocal addition is used. Parallel: Capacitances are added directly.
Compare the behavior of a capacitor in a DC circuit initially versus at steady state.
Initially: Current flows freely. Steady State: No current flows; acts as an open circuit.
Compare charging vs. discharging an RC circuit regarding current flow.
Charging: Current decreases exponentially. Discharging: Current (magnitude) decreases exponentially, and flows in the opposite direction.
Compare the voltage distribution in series vs parallel capacitor circuits.
Series: Voltage is split across capacitors. Parallel: Voltage is the same across each capacitor.
Compare capacitors in series vs. parallel regarding total charge.
Series: Charge is the same on each capacitor () | Parallel: Total charge is the sum of charges on each capacitor ()
Compare capacitors in series vs. parallel regarding total capacitance.
Series: | Parallel:
Compare the behavior of a capacitor in a circuit at the initial state vs. steady state.
Initial State: Current flows freely, capacitor is uncharged | Steady State: No current flows, capacitor is fully charged and acts as an open circuit.
Compare the voltage behavior of capacitors in series vs parallel.
Series: Voltage is split across each capacitor. | Parallel: Voltage is the same across each capacitor.
Compare the current behavior of capacitors in series vs parallel.
Series: Current is the same through each capacitor. | Parallel: Current divides through each capacitor.