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How do capacitors work?
What is inside a capacitor that allows it to charge slowly? I am just curious on why they charge gradually over time.
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A capacitor can be as simple as two metal plates. When a potential difference V is applied to a capacitor, current will flow, meaning charge is forced to pile onto the plates: positive on one end and negative on the other.
We know, however, that like charges repel each other, so the charges will resist piling up. Eventually, the plates will reach the maximum amount of charge that can be stored on the plates for a given potential V. It is the repulsion of like charges that prevents the charging from being instantaneous.
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A capacitor can be as simple as two metal plates. When a potential difference V is applied to a capacitor, current will flow, meaning charge is forced to pile onto the plates: positive on one end and negative on the other.
We know, however, that like charges repel each other, so the charges will resist piling up. Eventually, the plates will reach the maximum amount of charge that can be stored on the plates for a given potential V. It is the repulsion of like charges that prevents the charging from being instantaneous.