a).How much energy is stored in the capacitor at the start of the experiment wit

Question

a).How much energy is stored in the capacitor at the start of the experiment with the switch open?

a. None b. Some c. Alot

b).What is the voltage (difference) across the capacitor at the start of the experiment with the switch open?

Zero

6V

-6V

Somewhere between 0 and 6V

Something else

c) As soon as I close the switch, what happens in the circuit?

Nothing

Light bulb lights up, no current flows.

Light bulb lights up, current flows in circuit, capacitor remains uncharged

Light bulb lights up, current flows in circuit, capacitor starts to charge up

Light bulb lights up, current flows in circuit, capacitor starts to discharge

Now consider the circuit a LONG TIME after I close the switch. The current has stopped flowing and the bulb is off.

d)Which plate of the capacitor is positively charged and which is negatively charged in this situation? Note: refer to picture to determine which is the upper and lower plate.

a. Upper plate positively charged only
b. Lower plate positively charged only
c. Neither plate is charged since no current is flowing
d. Upper plate positively charged, Lower plate negatively charged

e. Upper plate negatively charged, Lower plate positively charged

e)Which way does the battery push electrons around the circuit?

a. Clockwise

b. Anti-clockwise

f)Which way does the capacitor push electrons around the circuit in this situation

a. Clockwise

b. Anti-clockwise

g)So what is the direction of the NET force on an electron in the circuit in this situation (hint: Remember no current is flowing)?

a. Zero
b. Clockwise
c. Anti-clockwise

h)The voltage between the capacitor plates represents the push it gives electrons in the circuit. It shares this characteristic in common with a battery. From your answers above you can deduce the voltage difference between the capacitor plates in this situation....

6V with top plate more positive

6V with lower plate more positive

Zero volts

3V with top plate more positive

3V with lower plate more positive

i)Is there energy stored in the capacitor now?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Cannot tell

Thinking about your answer to Qi, describe what would happen over several minutes if we started from the situation of Qd, then we opened the switch, removed the battery, connected the wires where the battery was and closed the switch? Explain your prediction.

Explanation / Answer

a).How much energy is stored in the capacitor at the start of the experiment with the switch open?

The answer is zero because there is no charge on capacitor before connecting it to battery.

b)What is the voltage (difference) across the capacitor at the start of the experiment with the switch open?

When switch is open the voltage across the capacitor is zero as no charge on capacitor.

c) As soon as I close the switch, what happens in the circuit?

Light bulb lights up, current flows in circuit, capacitor starts to charge up.

d) Which plate of the capacitor is positively charged and which is negatively charged in this situation?

The lower plate is connected to positive terminal of battery hence it is positively charged while the upper one is negatively charged.

e) Which way does the battery push electrons around the circuit?

In clockwise direction.

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