Jump to content
  • entries
    13
  • comments
    13
  • views
    2,888

Swagitance

Swagmeister11

Entry posted by Swagmeister11

958 views

 Share

One note before I begin my wonderfully edumacative blog: Swagitance is like capacitance, except it measures swag in high-schoolers (units are still farads cuz that word's cool)

Anyways, capacitance. More specifically, circuits involving them. According to I-Town's resident electrical engineer (room# 3012), all those capacitor only circuits are practically wrong. Since V=IR, if there is no resistor, current is infinite and everythang would blow up (ie a calculator). Thus everything we had learned was a lie. which is semi-annoying... However when resistors are added, things get much more interesting, and realistic. When the circuit is first established, at time=0, the capacitor, as it is empty, acts like a wire, and current flows through it (I=max I) and Voltage (across capacitor)=0. However, as time goes on and the capacitor fills with charge, it limits the current flow across it, decreasing current but increasing voltage. Thus as time approaches infinity, current approaches zero while voltage approaches that of the voltage of the battery (asymptotic behavior), and the capacitor acts like a switch that has been opened creating a open circuit. As to why this happens, it's in the textbook. read it.

may have something to do with the allignment of molecules? not sure, as I need to actually read 25.4-.6 tonight... aka peace ya'll (in southern drawl)

 Share

1 Comment

Recommended Comments

FizziksGuy

Theoretically you are correct, you would have an infinite current and things would blow up. Practically, however, voltage sources have some internal resistance, as do wires, and in many cases, the capacitors themselves. But in general, you typically want a resistor somewhere in your circuit any time you have a capacitor involved to limit the current (errrr, damage) you may cause.

Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×

Terms of Use

The pages of APlusPhysics.com, Physics in Action podcasts, and other online media at this site are made available as a service to physics students, instructors, and others. Their use is encouraged and is free of charge. Teachers who wish to use materials either in a classroom demonstration format or as part of an interactive activity/lesson are granted permission (and encouraged) to do so. Linking to information on this site is allowed and encouraged, but content from APlusPhysics may not be made available elsewhere on the Internet without the author's written permission.

Copyright Notice

APlusPhysics.com, Silly Beagle Productions and Physics In Action materials are copyright protected and the author restricts their use to online usage through a live internet connection. Any downloading of files to other storage devices (hard drives, web servers, school servers, CDs, etc.) with the exception of Physics In Action podcast episodes is prohibited. The use of images, text and animations in other projects (including non-profit endeavors) is also prohibited. Requests for permission to use such material on other projects may be submitted in writing to info@aplusphysics.com. Licensing of the content of APlusPhysics.com for other uses may be considered in the future.

APlusPhysics Books

APlusPhysics Books

×
×
  • Create New...