Initially, current flows freely into the uncharged capacitor. As the capacitor charges, the current decreases exponentially. Eventually, the capacitor reaches steady state, where its voltage equals the source voltage and current flow stops.

When a charged capacitor discharges through a resistor, the charge, voltage, and current decrease exponentially with time. The rate of discharge is determined by the time constant τ = RC.

Use the reciprocal formula: $\frac{1}{C_{total}} = \frac{1}{C_1} + \frac{1}{C_2} + \frac{1}{C_3} + ...$

Add the capacitances directly: $C_{total} = C_1 + C_2 + C_3 + ...$

Initially, current flows and the capacitor charges. As it charges, the current decreases. At steady state, the capacitor is fully charged, blocks DC current, and acts like an open circuit.

Increasing resistance increases the time constant, slowing down the charging/discharging process.

Increasing capacitance increases the time constant, slowing down the charging/discharging process and allowing it to store more charge.

The capacitor blocks DC current, acting like an open circuit.

Current flows freely through the circuit.

The total capacitance increases, allowing the circuit to store more charge at a given voltage.

Capacitance is the ability of a component or circuit to collect and store energy in the form of an electrical charge.

Steady state is when the capacitor is fully charged and no current flows through it, acting like an open switch.

The time constant ($\tau$ = RC) is the time it takes for a capacitor to charge to about 63% of its maximum voltage or discharge to about 37% of its initial voltage.

The equivalent capacitance is the total capacitance of a circuit with multiple capacitors, simplified into a single value.

An RC circuit is a circuit containing both a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C).