Question

It is interesting that in capacitive circuits, if there is an initial ‘flux’ on the capacitor it is given in voltage , while for an inductor the initial ‘ flux ’ is given as a current. Discuss whether there is an initial current on a fluxed capacitor and whether there is an initi al voltage on a fluxed indictor and how do you find each. Why is voltage on a capacitor and current on an inductor the preferred way to describe flux?

Answer 1

Capacitor does not allows sudden chages in voltage. So, at time t=0+ there will be almost same voltage as that of t=0-, but the current will change. So, the intial flux in the capacitor is given in voltage.

We need to examine the equations describing the capacitor before understanding it. The fundamental equation relating it's capacitance to the voltage applied accross it and amount of stored charge is

C=Q/V.

So, voltage on a capacitor is the preffered way to describe the flux.

Inductor does not allows sudden chages in current. So, at time t=0+ there will be almost same current as that of t=0-, but the voltage will change. So, the intial flux in the inductor is given in current.

So, current on an inductor is the preffered way to describe the flux.