The discussion centers on calculating the discharge time of a capacitor with a charge of 1.09 C, a potential difference of 16V, and a capacitance of 68,000 µF. The maximum leakage current is established at 0.003 µA per µF per V, resulting in a total leakage current of 3260 µA. The initial calculation of discharge time using Q/I yields 334 seconds, which is identified as the time constant rather than the actual discharge time. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the changing current and voltage during the discharge process and the relationship between resistance, voltage, and current in capacitor circuits.
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gneill said:For the typical charging capacitor circuit, the sum of the resistor and capacitor p.d.'s is constant (equal to the voltage source).
