Changes

*The [[Electrical Charge|charge]], [[Potential Difference|voltage]] and [[Electrical Current|current]] also all decrease [[Exponential Decay|exponentially]] during '''discharge'''.*The [[Time Constant|time constant]] of a [[Electrical Circuit|circuit]] determines how quickly a [[capacitor]] '''discharges'''.*A large [[Time Constant|timeconstant]] constant means a slow '''discharge''', while a small [[Time Constant|timeconstant]] constant means a rapid '''discharge'''.

The '''discharge ''' through a [[resistor]] follows an [[Exponential Decay|exponential decay]] described by the formulaformulae:

: *<math>𝑄=𝑄_0𝑒^{−𝑡/𝑅𝐶}</math> *<math>V=V_0𝑒^{−𝑡/𝑅𝐶}</math> *<math>I=I_0𝑒^{−𝑡/𝑅𝐶}</math>

𝑄 𝑅 is the [[Electrical ChargeResistance|chargeresistance]] in the [[Electrical Circuit|circuit]] stored,

𝐶 is the [[capacitance]] of the [[capacitor]], 𝑡 is [[time]], 𝑄₀ is the initial [[Electrical Charge|charge]] storedat time t,  V is the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across the [[capacitor]] at time t,

𝑅 I is the [[Electrical ResistanceCurrent|resistancecurrent]] in being '''discharged''' by the [[Electrical Circuit|circuitcapacitor]]at time t,

𝐶 𝑄₀ is the initial [[capacitance]] of the [[capacitorElectrical Charge|charge]]stored,

𝑡 I₀ is the initial [[timeElectrical Current|current]]through the [[Electrical Circuit|circuit]],

: *𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶

*In a [[defibrillator]], the [[capacitor ]] '''discharges ''' its energy quickly to deliver a shock to a patient's heart.*In RC timing circuits, capacitors [[capacitor]]s '''discharge ''' to control the timing intervals.