Question

Average power supplied to a capacitor over one complete cycle is ______.

Options

• 1

• Zero

• always positive

• always negative

Answer 1

Average power supplied to a capacitor over one complete cycle is zero.

Explanation:

We know that current leads voltage by 90 degrees in a capacitor. Over the course of one complete cycle, the capacitor charges in the first quarter cycle and discharges in the next quarter cycle. In the next negative half cycle, this will continue. As a result, the net power absorption is nil.