All Flashcards
Define capacitance.
The ability of a component or circuit to collect and store energy in the form of an electrical charge.
Define steady state in a DC circuit with capacitors.
The condition where the capacitor is fully charged and no current flows through it, acting like an open switch.
Define time constant (τ) for an RC circuit.
τ = RC, the time it takes for a capacitor to charge to about 63% of its max voltage or discharge to about 37% of its initial voltage.
Define equivalent capacitance for capacitors in series.
The total capacitance of multiple capacitors in series, calculated using the reciprocal formula:
Define equivalent capacitance for capacitors in parallel.
The total capacitance of multiple capacitors in parallel, calculated by directly adding the individual capacitances:
Define capacitance.
Capacitance is the ability of a component or circuit to collect and store energy in the form of an electrical charge.
What is steady state in a DC circuit with a capacitor?
Steady state is when the capacitor is fully charged and no current flows through it, acting like an open switch.
Define the time constant () in an RC circuit.
The time constant ( = 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.
Define equivalent capacitance.
The equivalent capacitance is the total capacitance of a circuit with multiple capacitors, simplified into a single value.
What is an RC circuit?
An RC circuit is a circuit containing both a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C).
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.