Class 12 Physics simulations · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Sharing charge between capacitors

Connect two charged capacitors. Charge redistributes to a common voltage — and some energy is lost.

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What to notice

Charge is conserved but energy is not: the loss appears as heat and radiation in the connecting wires.

Key relation

V = (C₁V₁ + C₂V₂)/(C₁ + C₂) ; ΔU = C₁C₂(V₁ − V₂)² / 2(C₁ + C₂)

Try this

Make V₁ = V₂. Is there any loss now?

What you can change

• C₁: 1 to 100 μF
• V₁: 0 to 100 V
• C₂: 1 to 100 μF
• V₂: 0 to 100 V

More in Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

• Energy stored in a capacitor
• Parallel plate capacitor
• Capacitors in series and parallel
• Partially filled capacitor
• Equipotentials around a point charge
• Dielectric in an isolated capacitor
• Charging an RC circuit
• Spherical capacitor

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