Understanding Capacitor and Inductor Behavior: A Physically-Based Explanation

[Passionate Eng]

Physically, can someone explain why does not the voltage on the capacitor change immediatly?
and why does not the current in the inductor also do?

 

[andrewkirk]

The voltage on the capacitor is a function of the amount of electric charge on its two plates. It takes time, and work, for the charge to accumulate.

 

[Hesch]

As for the capacitor:

I = C * dV/dt

So if dt is infinite small, dV/dt and thus I will become infinite high.

As for the inductor:

V = L * dI/dt

So if dt is infinite small, dI/dt and thus V will become infinite high.
Practically, if you feed an inductor by a DC-current and switch it off, the inductor will immediately produce a (long) spark, thereby keeping up the current.

 

[meBigGuy]

Read the following thread and then feel free to ask followup questions, either here (for capacitors) or in the thread (for inductors)
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/need-help-understanding-inductors.829921/

The thread concerns inductors and current, but a similar phenomenon exists for capacitors and voltage.