Capacitance, switches, and lightbulbs oh my

[goWlfpack]

Homework Statement

The capacitor in the figure below has a large capacitance and is initially uncharged. After the switch is closed, what happens to the lightbulb?


You can't paste the figure but it is a circuit with a capacitor paralled to a battery and in series with a lightbulb. a open switch is in parallel with the lightbulb and in series with the battery.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I think it will glow continuously as the capacitor receives energy from the battery and as long at the switch remains closed the lightbulb should stay on right??
or does it only glow when the capacitor is fully charged??

 

[LowlyPion]

Homework Statement

The capacitor in the figure below has a large capacitance and is initially uncharged. After the switch is closed, what happens to the lightbulb?


You can't paste the figure but it is a circuit with a capacitor paralled to a battery and in series with a lightbulb. a open switch is in parallel with the lightbulb and in series with the battery.

The Attempt at a Solution

I think it will glow continuously as the capacitor receives energy from the battery and as long at the switch remains closed the lightbulb should stay on right??
or does it only glow when the capacitor is fully charged??

When the capacitor is fully charged, how much current is flowing?

 

[baba89]

Your understanding is correct - when the switch is closed, the capacitor will begin to charge, and as long as the switch remains closed, the lightbulb will stay on. The lightbulb will continue to glow as long as the capacitor is receiving energy from the battery. Once the capacitor is fully charged, the lightbulb may dim slightly, but it should still remain on. The lightbulb will only turn off when the switch is opened, breaking the circuit and stopping the flow of electricity.