Energy Transfer in Capacitors: Charge and Discharge

This lecture discusses the transfer of energy to and from capacitors in electrical circuits. The instructor begins by solving exercises related to energy transfer, focusing on the charge stored in a capacitor at equilibrium. The charge, denoted as Q0, is calculated based on the nominal voltage and capacitance. The energy associated with this charge is derived from the initial energy stored in the power source. The instructor explains how energy is conserved during the transfer process, with half of the energy being stored in the capacitor and the other half dissipated as heat in the resistance. The lecture also covers the discharge of the capacitor, detailing how the stored energy is released through the resistance. The calculations for both charging and discharging processes are presented, emphasizing the exponential decay of voltage and current over time. The instructor concludes that regardless of the resistance values, the energy stored in the capacitor will always dissipate through the resistance during discharge.