A capacitor in an RC circuit is charged, storing 1.25 mJ of energy. What is the time required to discharge this capacitor (say, to 1% of its initial charge), as compared to the time required to discharge (to 1%) an identical capacitor in an identical RC circuit which has stored 2.5 mJ of energy instead?
A) twice the time
B) half the time
C) the same time
D) the answer depends on the values of R and C.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time required to discharge a capacitor in an RC circuit to a certain percentage of its initial charge is determined by the time constant (τ = RC) of the circuit, not by the initial energy stored in the capacitor.

A Capacitor in an RC Circuit Is Charged, Storing 1