Charging and discharging of capacitors

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of charges in capacitors and isolated conductors. An isolated conductor can possess charge Q, distinguishing it from being uncharged. When an earthed conductor approaches a positively charged capacitor, charge transfer occurs, but the total charge remains constant, as the amount leaving the capacitor equals that entering. Capacitors consist of two plates with equal and opposite charges, and charges cannot jump between the plates; they can only move through connected wires, such as those linked to a battery.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of capacitor fundamentals, including charge distribution.
  • Knowledge of electrical circuits and the role of batteries.
  • Familiarity with the concept of isolated conductors.
  • Basic principles of electrostatics and charge movement.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of capacitor charging and discharging.
  • Learn about the effects of grounding on charge distribution.
  • Explore the concept of electric fields around charged conductors.
  • Investigate the role of batteries in electrical circuits and charge flow.
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in understanding capacitor behavior and charge dynamics in electrical systems.

thereddevils
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The questions says an isolated conductor has charge Q ...

is isolated the same as uncharged ? If so , how can it have charge Q ?

Also , if an earthed conductor is brought near a positively charged capacitor , some of the negative charges will move to the +ve charged capacitor and vice versa , so would the charge still remain constant ? Or the amount of charge that leave the capacitor equal the amount that came in ?
 
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Isolated means that the conductor is not connected to anything.

A capacitor usually has two plates, with equal and opposite charges. What do you mean on positively charged capacitor?

Charges can move to one body to an other one if there is some conducting contact between the objects. ehild
 
ehild said:
Isolated means that the conductor is not connected to anything.

A capacitor usually has two plates, with equal and opposite charges. What do you mean on positively charged capacitor?

Charges can move to one body to an other one if there is some conducting contact between the objects.


ehild

could it be that the positively charged capacitor have positive charges on both plates ? Then when it is brought near to a negatively charged conductor , the charges will move across each other right ? Then will the amount of charges on the capacitor the same now ?
 
The charges can not jump to one plate of a capacitor onto the other one. ehild
 
ehild said:
The charges can not jump to one plate of a capacitor onto the other one.


ehild

what if it is connected to a battery ? I thought the battery would pump the charges around .
 
No, the charges can move only in the wires which connect one pole of the battery to one plate of the capacitor.

ehild
 
ehild said:
No, the charges can move only in the wires which connect one pole of the battery to one plate of the capacitor.

ehild

oh , so the charges can only move to the other side of the plate through the battery ?
 
thereddevils said:
oh , so the charges can only move to the other side of the plate through the battery ?

Yes.
 

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