# Capacitor charged then Connected to another Capacitor.

## Homework Statement

One capacitor is charged until its stored energy is 4.0 J, the charging battery then being removed. A second uncharged capacitor is then connected to it in parallel. (a) If the charge distributes equally, what is now the total energy stored in the electric fields?(b) Where did the excess energy go?

## Homework Equations

u=1/2*ε*E2 Where E is the electric field and u is the energy density(U/Volume)

## The Attempt at a Solution

Okay so I'm somewhat lost. Since the charge is spread equally, and they are in parallel, so I assume they have the same capacitance. So for that I assumed that the total energy stored in each is half of that? However my reasoning is not correct since energy disappears? How can I approach the problem correctly?

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Dick
Homework Helper

## Homework Statement

One capacitor is charged until its stored energy is 4.0 J, the charging battery then being removed. A second uncharged capacitor is then connected to it in parallel. (a) If the charge distributes equally, what is now the total energy stored in the electric fields?(b) Where did the excess energy go?

## Homework Equations

u=1/2*ε*E2 Where E is the electric field and u is the energy density(U/Volume)

## The Attempt at a Solution

Okay so I'm somewhat lost. Since the charge is spread equally, and they are in parallel, so I assume they have the same capacitance. So for that I assumed that the total energy stored in each is half of that? However my reasoning is not correct since energy disappears? How can I approach the problem correctly?
The charge will redistribute between the two capacitors. Each of two capacitors will have half the charge of the original capacitor. How will that affect the electric field in each capacitor?

Would that cut the electric field in half?

Dick
Homework Helper
Would that cut the electric field in half?
Yes, it would. What will that do to the total stored energy?

1/4 the original energy on each.

Dick
Homework Helper
1/4 the original energy on each.
Right again. So now you've got half the energy you started with. Where did it go?

Hmm that's what I'm unsure of now. Was this energy lost pushing the charge to the other capacitor?

Dick
Homework Helper
Hmm that's what I'm unsure of now. Was this energy lost pushing the charge to the other capacitor?
Well, it has to flow through a wire. What kind of property of wire might make that not free?

haruspex