---
title: "An ideal LC circuit contains an inductor with inductance \\(L\\) and a capacitor with capacitance \\(C\\). At time \\(t = 0\\), the capacitor holds its maximum charge \\(Q_0\\) and the current in the circuit is zero. What is the earliest time \\(t > 0\\) at which the energy stored in the electric field of the capacitor equals the energy stored in the magnetic field of the inductor?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118730/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:13:57+00:00"
---

# An ideal LC circuit contains an inductor with inductance \(L\) and a capacitor with capacitance \(C\). At time \(t = 0\), the capacitor holds its maximum charge \(Q_0\) and the current in the circuit is zero. What is the earliest time \(t > 0\) at which the energy stored in the electric field of the capacitor equals the energy stored in the magnetic field of the inductor?

An ideal LC circuit contains an inductor with inductance \(L\) and a capacitor with capacitance \(C\). At time \(t = 0\), the capacitor holds its maximum charge \(Q_0\) and the current in the circuit is zero. What is the earliest time \(t > 0\) at which the energy stored in the electric field of the capacitor equals the energy stored in the magnetic field of the inductor?

![A single closed loop circuit consisting of an ideal capacitor with capacitance C on the left vertical branch and an ideal inductor with inductance L on the right vertical branch. The top horizontal wire connects the top plate of the capacitor to the top of the inductor, and the bottom horizontal wire connects the bottom plate of the capacitor to the bottom of the inductor. The top plate of the capacitor is labeled +Q_0 and the bottom plate is labeled -Q_0. No other labels, lines, or text appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785831236-hpcv8U.jpg)

- **A.** \(\dfrac{\pi}{8}\sqrt{LC}\)
- **B.** \(\dfrac{\pi}{6}\sqrt{LC}\)
- **C.** \(\dfrac{\pi}{4}\sqrt{LC}\)
- **D.** \(\dfrac{\pi}{2}\sqrt{LC}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118730/*