A capacitor discharges most rapidly when it is connected to which type of circuit?

A capacitor discharges most rapidly when it is connected to a short circuit. This occurs because a short circuit provides a path of very low resistance for the current to flow. When the capacitor is connected in such a manner, the energy stored in the capacitor is released almost instantaneously, allowing the current to drop rapidly as the voltage across the capacitor decreases quickly.

In a short circuit scenario, the impedance is minimal, which leads to a high rate of discharge. The capacitor can release its stored energy in a very short amount of time, resulting in a fast discharge curve. Factors such as capacitance and current flow contribute to how quickly this discharge happens, but the defining aspect of a short circuit is the direct, low-resistance path for the discharge, leading to the quickest possible release of energy from the capacitor.

In contrast, other circuit configurations like series or parallel circuits introduce additional resistance or capacitance interactions that slow down the discharge process. An open circuit, by definition, prevents current flow entirely, meaning the capacitor would not discharge at all.