Describe the process of a capacitor charging.

At first, there is a potential difference between the two plates of the capacitor equal to the potential difference between the two battery terminals. This causes electrons to build up on one of the plates making that one more negatively charged and the other plate more positively charged, due to the negatively charged electrons repelling the electrons on the other plate.
Eventually, all the electrical energy is stored as electrostatic potential energy in the form of an electric field in the capacitor. It stops charging once the plates have equal but opposite charges.

Answered by Physics tutor

1475 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How does light from distant stars show how fast they are moving away from us.


A fluorescent light uses a lining to emit visible light, explain why this is necessary and how it works.


I have an infinite number of glass blocks stacked side by side. The first block has refractive index n1, the second n2 and so on, such that n1<n2...<n(infinity). I shine a light on the stack, what angle does the ray make to the normal on the last block?


Why is potential energy negative? What does that even mean?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences