ABSTRACT
A capacitor, C, resistor, R, and switch are joined by ideal wires as shown in Figure 23.1. The switch is open for all times t < 0 s, and the capacitor has charges ±Q0 on its plates prior to t = 0.
+Q0
−Q0 RC
+q
−q RC
I
t ≤ 0 t > 0
FIGURE 23.1 Discharging a Capacitor through a Resistor
At time t = 0, the switch is closed and the capacitor begins to discharge as current flows through the wires leading to and from the resistor.
