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

1580 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A cable with a diameter of 6mm is used to lift crate. Calculate the mass of the crate required to create a stress of 350 MPa.


Describe and explain the photoelectric effect in terms of photons interacting with the surface of a metal.


Can you talk me through how to solve problems on projectiles? I always get confused


Explain the process of annihilation?


We're here to help

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

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning