Given information
A battery is connected to a capacitor.
Step-by-step explanation
The battery pumps the charge from one plate to another. every electron pushed out of the battery negative terminal is matched by an electron being pulled in from the positive terminal. As a consequence, every electron added to the capacitor negative plate is matched by an electron removed from the positive plate. Electrons repel each other, so they move to be far apart from each other as possible. the repulsion acts across the dielectric of the capacitor. this allows a current to flow, but once the charge is fully distributed an equilibrium is reached where no more current flows and everything is in balance.
the balance of charge is that neither the battery nor the capacitor can create or destroy charge. Since they were neutral before they were connected, they must be neutral after they are connected. The charge removed from one plate appears as excess on the other plate. This is true regardless of the conductor size or shape.
Unlock all Textbook Solutions
Physics: Principles with Applications
Solutions
Chapter
Section
- Problem 1
- Problem 2
- Problem 3a
- Problem 3b
- Problem 4
- Problem 5
- Problem 6
- Problem 7
- Problem 7
- Problem 8
- Problem 9
- Problem 10
- Problem 11a
- Problem 11b
- Problem 12
- Problem 13
- Problem 13
- Problem 14
- Problem 15a
- Problem 15b
- Problem 15c
- Problem 15d
- Problem 15e
- Problem 16a
- Problem 16b
- Problem 17a
- Problem 17b
- Problem 17c
- Problem 17d
- Problem 17e
- Problem 18