A 1.0 µF capacitor initially stores 15 µC of charge - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 21 - 2019 - Paper 2

To find the maximum current ($I_{max}$) during the discharge of a capacitor, we can use the formula:

$I_{max} = \frac{Q}{R}$

where:

• $Q$ is the charge stored in the capacitor (in coulombs), and
• $R$ is the resistance (in ohms).

Step 1: Convert Units

Given:

• Capacitor charge, $Q = 15 \mu C = 15 \times 10^{-6} C$
• Resistance, $R = 25 \Omega$

Step 2: Calculate Maximum Current

Now, substituting the values into the formula:

$I_{max} = \frac{15 \times 10^{-6}}{25}$

Calculating this gives:

$I_{max} = 0.0006 A = 0.6 mA$

Conclusion

Thus, the maximum current during the discharge of the capacitor is 0.6 mA, which corresponds to option A.