Question

In an LC circuit, the angular frequency is ω = √1/LC. Explain why an LC circuit with a larger inductance or a larger capacitance will oscillate more slowly. Make your explanation based on physics, not mathematics.

Answer 1

An LC circuit consists of an inductor L and a capacitor C. A capacitor stores energy in the electric field E between its plates, depending on the voltage across it and an inductor stores energy in its magnetic field B, depending on the current through it.

Now, when an inductor is connected across a charged capacitor, current starts flowing through the inductor and it also generated magnetic field around it and reduces the voltage on the capacitor while doing so. Larger the inductor, larger current is produced and hence magnetic field will be more. When the voltage reaches zero, the current will began to charge the capacitor with a voltage of opposite polarity. When the magnetic field is completely dissipated the current stops and the charge is again stored in the capacitor, with the opposite polarity as before. Then the cycle will begin again, with the current flowing in the opposite direction through the inductor. The charge flows back and forth between the plates of the capacitor, through the inductor. The energy also oscillates back and forth between the capacitor and the inductor. Thus large the quantity of inductance and capacitance, more the current.More energy which required to charge the capacitor can be extracted from large magnetic field Thus large energy is generated.