> Right. So the potential difference between the terminals of a battery is 9 
> V, unless there happens to be a capacitor connected to them, in which case 
> the potential difference is magically 0 V despite the fact that a vast 
> current is being generated?

Exactly.  A totally uncharged capacitor appears as a short-circuit.  For a 
split second it is exactly the same as if you had connected a wire between 
the + and - on the battery.

> Right. Sure. Makes perfect sense. Electrons just move of their own 
> volition anyway; it's not like it requires a *force* to drive them or 
> anything...

I really don't see the problem.  Do you understand what happens if you short 
a battery with a wire?  You will get a huge current flowing even though the 
voltage across the wire is virtually zero.  If you put a super-conductor 
across the terminals of a battery, would you expect a current to still flow? 
After all, the voltage across the superconductor would be zero...

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