Potential difference between 2 points in a capacitor circuit

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around analyzing a capacitor circuit involving two capacitors and a 24 V battery. Participants explore the potential differences across the capacitors and the conservation of charge within the system as it reaches equilibrium.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of conservation of charge and Kirchhoff's Voltage Law to derive equations relating the charges and potential differences in the circuit. Questions arise regarding the assumptions about the battery terminals and their charges when not delivering current.

Discussion Status

Several equations have been proposed, including those for potential differences in terms of charge and capacitance. Participants are actively questioning the need for additional equations and the relevance of battery charge assumptions, leading to a nuanced exploration of the circuit's behavior.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on using symbolic representations rather than numerical values, and participants are encouraged to consider initial conditions and the ideal behavior of circuit components in their analysis.

  • #31
The solution for defining a battery as infinite C implies dV/dt = I/C =0 regardless of the charge transferred or its rate of flow which is current. So we assume a charge is simply transferred in this case from the higher voltage to the lower voltage battery and the conservation of charge equations then only involve the other components. So in the end it doesn’t affect the result but at least it passes the sniff test for reality in physics.

I posted the correct assumption in #11 if if C1V1+C2V2=0.

Also from KVL, V1+V2 +24-12V =0 and if C2=2C1
Thus for C1=2 uF and C2=4 uF

you have 2 equations and 2 unknowns, solve it and what are V1,V2?
 
Last edited:

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