3.9 Capacitor and capacitance

What is the basic construction of a capacitor?

• Two parallel plates with a conductor
• Two parallel plates separated by a dielectric
• A single coil of wire

In a DC circuit, what happens to the current flow when a capacitor is first connected?

• It decreases rapidly
• It remains constant
• It peaks initially and then decreases

What happens to the current flow in a DC circuit when the capacitor is fully charged?

• It increases
• It remains the same
• It drops to zero

What occurs when a charged capacitor is connected to a short circuit?

• It remains charged
• It slowly discharges
• It discharges quickly

When a capacitor is being charged, where does the current flow?

• From the positive plate to the negative plate
• From the negative plate to the positive plate
• Through the dielectric between the plates

How does the current behave in a capacitor during the discharge phase in a DC circuit?

• It flows continuously
• It flows at a constant rate
• It decreases rapidly and then stops

What is the function of a capacitor in an electrical circuit?

• To store and release electrical energy
• To increase current flow
• To convert AC to DC

What does the RC time constant (τ) in a circuit represent?

• The time it takes for a capacitor to fully charge
• The product of resistance and capacitance
• The time it takes for the circuit to discharge

What percentage of the source voltage does a capacitor charge to in one time constant (τ)?

• 0.5
• 0.63
• 0.99

How many time constants (τ) are required for a capacitor to charge to nearly 99% of the source voltage?

• 1τ
• 3τ
• 5τ