Capacitor Charging, Energy Flow

In summary, the conversation is about a setup with a steady voltage source from a battery and three capacitors (C1, C2, C3) and two resistors (R1, R2). The relationships between the capacitance, voltage, and resistance are given. Two scenarios are discussed where the voltage relationships after the scenarios are run are the same. The question is how to calculate the energy flow through R1 and R2 and the relation between energy flow in the two scenarios. The request for clarification includes the suggestion of providing diagrams to remove ambiguities in the setup.
  • #1
kboi
1
0
Gentlemen and Ladies - Requesting a little clarification on this.

Heres the setup: I have "steady" voltage source - In this case from a battery (Vb)
Have three capacitors (C1, C2, C3). Have 2 Resistors R1 and R2.

Here are the relationships:
Capacitance Voltage Resistance
C1 = C2 = C3 1/2Vb = Vc1 = Vc3 = 1/3Vc2 R1 = R2

Two scenarios:
Scenario A:
Connect Vb in Parallel with Vc1 placing R1 in between.

Scenario B:
Connect Vc2 in Parallel with Vc3 placing R2 in between.

Initial Potential Difference in Scenario B is Double that of Scenario A.

++++++++++++++

Here are the Voltage relationships AFTER "running" the above Scenarios.
Vb = Vc1 = Vc3 = Vc2

Even though we have raised C1 and C3 to the same Voltage - My question comes down to how much energy actually flowed through R1 and R2 during this process?

Would we calculate this using Ohms Law and Measure the Current and Voltage at specific intervals and then use I^2R or should we just use capacitor energy calculations on C1 and C3.

The heart of the question is what's the relation between "energy flows" between the 2 Scenarios?
 
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  • #2
It would help if you provided diagrams to remove ambiguities such as
kboi said:
Connect Vb in Parallel with Vc1 placing R1 in between.
Both arrangements shown below start with two batteries in parallel and then a resistor is placed "in between". :oldconfused:

Circuits.png
 

What is a capacitor?

A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy in the form of an electric field. It is made up of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, known as a dielectric.

How does a capacitor charge?

A capacitor charges when a voltage is applied across its two plates. This creates an electric field between the plates, causing one plate to accumulate positive charge and the other to accumulate negative charge.

What is the energy flow in a capacitor?

The energy flow in a capacitor is from the source of the charging voltage to the capacitor, where it is stored as electrical potential energy. When the capacitor discharges, the energy flows back out of the capacitor and into the circuit.

How does the energy stored in a capacitor relate to its capacitance and voltage?

The energy stored in a capacitor is directly proportional to its capacitance and the square of its voltage. This means that increasing the capacitance or voltage will result in a higher amount of stored energy.

What are some common applications of capacitors?

Capacitors are commonly used in electronic circuits for energy storage, smoothing out power supply voltage fluctuations, and filtering out unwanted signals. They are also utilized in many electrical devices such as motors, audio equipment, and radios.

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