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Discharging a Capacitor

Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 36 of 51.

Discharging through a resistor:

q = Q e^(−t/RC)

A discharging circuit

After one τ = RC, 37% is left. The voltage falls the same way, and the stored energy becomes heat in the resistor.

The discharging curve

Challenge

A 200 μF capacitor charged to 10 V discharges through a 5 kΩ resistor. How much charge q is left 2 s later?

Try it yourself

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Electricity and Magnetism

1Electric Charge and Force

Electric Charge Coulomb's Law Several Charges Recap - Charges in a Line

4Charged Conductors

The Charged Sphere Connecting Spheres Recap - Beam Between Plates

7Real Batteries

Internal Resistance The Variable Resistor Ammeters and Voltmeters Recap - Flashlight

10Magnetic Fields

Magnets and Magnetic Fields Field of a Wire Loops and Solenoids Recap - Electromagnet

2The Electric Field

The Electric Field Field of Several Charges The Uniform Field A Charge in a Uniform Field Recap - Stopping a Proton

5Capacitors

The Capacitor Combining Capacitors Changing a Capacitor Recap - Camera Flash

8Kirchhoff's Laws

The Junction Rule The Loop Rule Solving Two Loops Recap - Charging a Battery

11Magnetic Forces

Force on a Moving Charge Circles in a Field Force on a Wire Two Parallel Wires Recap - Current Balance

3Energy and Potential

Electric Potential Energy Electric Potential Field and Potential Recap - Accelerating Ions

6Current and Resistance

Current and Voltage Resistance and Ohm's Law Series and Parallel Electric Power Recap - Fairy Lights

9Capacitors in Circuits

A Capacitor in a Circuit Charging a CapacitorDischarging a CapacitorRecap - Defibrillator

12Induction

A Rod Moving in a Field Magnetic Flux Faraday's Law Lenz's Law Recap - Generator