More Current Flow

[MedPR]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

When the switch is closed, does the current (conventional current) flow to the capacitor first, or the resistor first?

 

[MrNeuro]

Conventional flows to the resistor. Electron flow though is through the capacitor first.

 

[MedPR]

Conventional flows to the resistor. Electron flow though is through the capacitor first.

Ok thanks, that's what I thought. What happens when the capacitor is fully charged? Will current flow past it as if it wasn't there at all?

 

[411309]

you can trace the flow of current as it originates from the positively charged terminal and moves towards the negatively charged terminal; so it has to pass through the resistor first.

Even if the capacitor is fully charged everything else will go on hunky dory.

 

[cfrost]

Ok thanks, that's what I thought. What happens when the capacitor is fully charged? Will current flow past it as if it wasn't there at all?

Nope it's actually the opposite of that. When the switch is just closed the current flows through the capacitor essentially as if it wasn't there. When it's fully charged however the capacitor acts like an open circuit and no current flows through the circuit.