Energy Stored in Capacitor:
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The energy stored in a capacitor is the electric potential energy held in the electric field between the capacitor plates. It's given by the equation E = ½CV² where C is capacitance and V is voltage.
The calculator uses the energy stored equation:
Where:
Explanation: The energy stored is proportional to the capacitance and the square of the voltage.
Details: Calculating stored energy is crucial for designing circuits, understanding capacitor discharge, and ensuring safety with high-energy capacitors.
Tips: Enter capacitance in farads and voltage in volts. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Why is energy proportional to voltage squared?
A: Because both the charge stored and the potential difference increase with voltage, resulting in a squared relationship.
Q2: What are typical energy values for capacitors?
A: Small capacitors store microjoules, while large supercapacitors can store thousands of joules.
Q3: Is all the stored energy usable?
A: No, practical circuits can't extract all the stored energy due to internal resistance and other losses.
Q4: How does energy relate to capacitor size?
A: For a given voltage, larger capacitance means more energy storage. Physical size typically increases with capacitance.
Q5: What safety concerns exist with high-energy capacitors?
A: High-energy capacitors can deliver dangerous shocks even when disconnected from power. Always discharge safely before handling.