Ch.

27-Part II RC Circuits
Section 1: RC Circuits (DC)
Case 1: Charging a capacitor

C emf

1. Observation: S closed t =0: i =Imax, q = 0 t =: i =0, q = Qmax= ( )C I(t)=? Q(t)=?

s
2. Kirchhoffs Rules
t t Q q 1 1 q dq RC iR = 0 R = 0 dt = dq Q(t ) = C 1 e 0 0 q C C C dt RC
t RC Q(t ) = C 1 e t t dq d RC RC = (C 1 ) = e dt dt Re

I=

3. Graphical representations:

q
C = Qmax

Q =0.63Qmax

t =0, Q0=0 t = (long enough), Qmax=C t 1 Q = C 1 e = C 1 t =RC , e = 0.63(C ) = 0.63(Qmax )

t The time constant t =RC represents the time it takes the charge to increase from zero to 63% of the maximum charge C. The current as a function of time is I Imax t =0, Imax=

I = 0.37Imax

t =, I =0 t = RC , I =0.37 Imax t RC dQ(t ) I (t ) = I (t ) = e dt R

t The time constant t =RC represents the time it takes the current to decrease from its to 37% of the maximum value . maximum value R

Case 2: Discharging a capacitor

C emf S2 R

S1
2. Kirchhoffs Rules iR + VC = 0 iR +
Q (t ) = Qmax e

S1 is closed for a long time. When S1 is open and then S2 is closed, the capacitor C is discharged. 1. Observations: t =0: q = Qmax = C , i = Imax t = (long enough): q = 0, i = 0 At any time t: Q(t) =?, I(t) =?

Q t q q dq 1 q dq dq = 0 R + = 0 R= = dt 0 Q max q C C dt C RC dt
t RC

t RC

= (C )e

t t Q max t RC dq d RC ) = RC = I = = (C e dt dt RC e Re

3. Graphical representations: I Qmax t =0, Qmax= C t =, Q =0 t = RC , Q =0.37 Qmax

Q = 0.37Qmax

The current as a function of time is

I Imax

I = 0.37Imax

R t =, I =0 t = RC , I =0.37 Imax t dQ(t ) I (t ) = I (t ) = e RC dt R

t

t =0, Imax=