Capacitors: How do they store energy ?

DaleSpam

Quote by hms.tech

My notes say the exact same thing , I specifically don't understand how can one even imagine this phenomenon ? It is simply false because there is an insulator (air/dielectric)
between the two plates and no charge flows between this space !

Not during charging , not during discharging, Never !

Can you justify your claim ?

Here is a portion of my notes :

The electrostatic force is conservative. That means that it does not matter what path it takes, the work is the same. It doesn't matter if the charge goes through the air (which is possible but not common) or if it goes through wires. Either way the work is the same.

sophiecentaur

Quote by hms.tech

We can infer that the potential energy would really decrease ie become more negative.
If that is true, how can a charged capacitor(with negative energy) do positive work while it discharges to power a bulb? (its absurd)

Nah
As you charge up the capacitor, the potential energy becomes LESS negative because you are separating charges (it's an attractive force involved). It follows that you get energy OUT when the system returns to its more negative state (capacitor discharges through the connected load).

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