What Happens When AC Is Applied to a Capacitor?

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When AC is applied to a capacitor, it charges during the positive half-cycle as the voltage rises and discharges as the voltage drops. The initial voltage (v0) represents the starting point, while vpeak is the maximum voltage reached at 90 degrees, and v1 is the voltage at the end of the positive cycle at 180 degrees. During the negative half-cycle, the capacitor behaves similarly, charging and discharging in response to the alternating voltage. The current in an AC circuit is always 90 degrees ahead of the voltage due to the relationship between charge and current. Understanding these dynamics is essential for analyzing capacitive behavior in AC circuits.
skylines
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what happens if AC is applied to a capacitor?

I am able to understand that ,For 1st half of the cycle,i.e for +ve cycle, during the voltage rise from v0 to vpeak, the capacitor charges, and during the voltage drop from vpeak to v1 the capacitor discharges.Let me know if this is true.

I assume
v0 as the intial voltage at an angle 0
vpeak as the highet voltage at an angle 90
v1 as the voltage at an angle 180 i.e voltage at the end of the +ve half cycle.

And also let me know what happens during -ve half cycle?
 
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welcome to pf!

hi skylines! welcome to pf! :smile:

the charge of a capacitor behaves the same as the voltage …

they go up and down exactly together (whether it's AC or not)

since current is the derivative of charge, current in sinusoidal AC is always 90° ahead of voltage :wink:
 

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