RC & RL Circuits: Capacitor Current Source & Inductor Voltage Source?

[ECE]

Does the capacitor acts as a current source and the inductor acts as the voltage source in the RC and RL circuits respectively? If so why does the capacitor not act as a voltage source and inductor not act as a current source?

Thankyou

 

[waht]

No. Both the capacitor and inductor actually absorb energy. A fully charged capacitor (energized) will discharge nonlinearly into a resistive load. A current source in theory should supply constant current into any load.

A fully energized inductor (where current is flowing through it) will not supply a constant voltage into a load, as required by a voltage source. When the current through the coil is cut off, the magnetic field will collapse and release energy, thus inducing a voltage nonlinearly.

 

[ravenprp]

for your question. In RC and RL circuits, the capacitor and inductor do not act as current or voltage sources in the traditional sense. However, their behavior in these circuits can be described as such.

In an RC circuit, the capacitor does not act as a current source, but it does control the flow of current in the circuit. When the capacitor is fully charged, it blocks the flow of current, acting as an open circuit. As the capacitor discharges, it allows current to flow, acting as a closed circuit. This can be thought of as a current source, as the capacitor controls the amount of current flowing in the circuit.

Similarly, in an RL circuit, the inductor does not act as a voltage source, but it does control the voltage in the circuit. When the current through the inductor is changing, it induces a voltage across its terminals, which opposes the change in current. This can be thought of as a voltage source, as the inductor controls the voltage in the circuit.

So, while the capacitor and inductor do not act as traditional current or voltage sources, their behavior in these circuits can be described in terms of controlling current and voltage, respectively. This is due to their unique properties as energy storage devices – the capacitor stores energy in an electric field, while the inductor stores energy in a magnetic field.

It is also important to note that in an ideal RC or RL circuit, the capacitor and inductor do not dissipate any energy, and therefore do not act as sources of energy. However, in real circuits, there will always be some energy loss due to resistance, so the capacitor and inductor may need to be periodically recharged or replenished.

In summary, the capacitor and inductor do not act as traditional current or voltage sources in RC and RL circuits, but their behavior can be described in terms of controlling current and voltage, respectively, due to their unique properties as energy storage devices.