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Capacitor charge and dischargeAQA A-Level Physics: Mind map

What this mind map covers

  • Graphs
  • Time constant
  • Discharge equations
  • Charging equations
  • Half-life and RP9

Exam questions on Capacitor charge and discharge

  1. A 1000 µF capacitor is charged to 6.0 V and then discharged through a 22 kΩ resistor.
    The 22 kΩ resistor is replaced by a 44 kΩ resistor. State and explain the effect on the initial discharge current and on the time taken for the capacitor to discharge.2 marks
  2. A 470 µF capacitor charged to 9.0 V is discharged through a 10 kΩ resistor.
    Calculate the discharge current at the start and 4.7 s later.2 marks
  3. A 1500 µF capacitor, initially uncharged, is connected in series with a 3.3 kΩ resistor to a 12 V supply of negligible internal resistance, so that it charges through the resistor.
    Calculate the p.d. across the capacitor 6.0 s after the circuit is connected.3 marks
See the full worksheet

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).