Description
initialEnergy = 0.5*C*initialVoltage²; finalEnergy = 0.5*C*finalVoltage²; energyDelta = 0.5*C*(finalVoltage-initialVoltage)*(finalVoltage+initialVoltage).
Capacitors and inductors store energy under voltage and current conventions, respectively. An ideal endpoint energy difference, charge balance or flux-linkage balance does not determine the transient path or how energy is dissipated.
initialEnergy = 0.5*C*initialVoltage²; finalEnergy = 0.5*C*finalVoltage²; energyDelta = 0.5*C*(finalVoltage-initialVoltage)*(finalVoltage+initialVoltage).
When to use this tool
Use Electricity: Capacitor Initial Final Energy Delta when checking one ideal storage-state comparison or supplied balance.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter capacitance, initialVoltage, finalVoltage. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read result. Expand result to inspect the returned fields.
Require nonnegative capacitance. initialEnergy = 0.5*C*initialVoltage²; finalEnergy = 0.5*C*finalVoltage²; energyDelta = 0.5*C*(finalVoltage-initialVoltage)*(finalVoltage+initialVoltage).1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| capacitance | Capacitance; use farads with SI electrical inputs. | Required. Finite number. |
| initialVoltage | Initial Voltage | Required. Finite number. |
| finalVoltage | Final Voltage | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| result | Object containing the named calculated members below. | Required. Object. |
| result.initialEnergy | Initial Energy | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.finalEnergy | Final Energy | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.energyDelta | Energy Delta | Calculated result member: number. |
{
"input": {
"capacitance": 2,
"initialVoltage": 3,
"finalVoltage": 4
},
"output": {
"result": {
"initialEnergy": 9,
"finalEnergy": 16,
"energyDelta": 7
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Use F and V for joules. The signed ideal stored-energy change is not supplied work or dissipation; the factored difference does not eliminate all floating-point limits.
- Outputs are nested inside result. Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use a complete switching and loss model, with component limits, when analyzing practical connections or energy transfer.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Capacitor Charge Step Energy Residual
energyChange = C*(finalVoltage-initialVoltage)*(finalVoltage+initialVoltage)/2; residual = suppliedWork-energyChange.
- Parallel Capacitor Initial Charge Balance
charge = sum(C[i]*V[i]); voltage = charge/sum(C[i]).