If a capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then short-circuited, what happens

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Question: If a capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then short-circuited, what happens to the energy stored in the capacitor?

Options:

Correct Answer: It is dissipated as heat

Solution:

When a capacitor is short-circuited, the stored energy is dissipated as heat in the circuit.

If a capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then short-circuited, what happens to the energy stored in the capacitor?

If a capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then short-circuited, what happens to the energy stored in the capacitor?

Correct Answer: Energy is dissipated as heat.

Step 1: Understand that a capacitor stores electrical energy when it is charged to a voltage V.
Step 2: Recognize that short-circuiting means connecting the two terminals of the capacitor directly with a wire.
Step 3: When the capacitor is short-circuited, the stored energy starts to flow through the wire.
Step 4: This flow of energy causes a current to pass through the circuit.
Step 5: As the current flows, the energy is converted into heat due to the resistance in the wire and components.
Step 6: Eventually, all the stored energy is dissipated as heat, and the capacitor is left with no energy.

Capacitor Energy Storage – A capacitor stores energy in the electric field created between its plates, which is given by the formula U = 1/2 CV^2.
Short-Circuiting a Capacitor – Short-circuiting a capacitor allows the stored energy to rapidly discharge, typically resulting in heat generation due to resistance in the circuit.