Activity 25

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

PS-2826

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

Electricity: resistor-capacitor circuit, time constant
Qty
1
1
1
2
2

GLX setup file: time constant

Equipment and Materials

PASPORT Xplorer GLX
Voltage Probe (included with GLX)
CASTLE Kit
D Cell
Alligator Clip Adapters

Part Number
PS-2002
EM-8624A
PI-6602
SE-9756

Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to measure the voltage across a capacitor as it is charged and then
discharged through a resistor that is in series in a circuit with the capacitor.

Background
When a DC voltage source is connected across an uncharged capacitor, the rate at which the
capacitor charges up decreases as time passes. At first, the capacitor is easy to charge because
there is very little charge on the plates. But as charge accumulates on the plates, the voltage
source must do more work to move additional charges onto the plates
because the plates already have charge of the same sign on them. As a
result, the capacitor charges exponentially, quickly at the beginning and
more slowly as the capacitor becomes fully charged.
If the capacitor is in a circuit with a resistor, the time it takes to charge
the capacitor to a maximum value depends on both the capacitance, C,
of the capacitor and the resistance, R, of the resistor. The product of R
and C is called the capacitive time constant and it is symbolized by
where = RC.

R
+ C

Fig. 1: RC circuit

NOTE: The stated value of a capacitor may vary by as much as 20% from the actual value.
The capacitive time constant is the amount of time it takes to charge the capacitor to 63.2% of its
maximum charge, or the amount of time it takes to discharge a capacitor to 36.8% of its
maximum charge.
Can the charge on a capacitor be determined by measuring the voltage across the capacitor? The
charge, q, is the product of the capacitance, C, and the voltage, V. Therefore, the charge is
directly proportional to the voltage, or q = CV.

Preview
Use a Voltage Probe to measure the voltage across a capacitor as it is charged and then discharged
through a resistor. Use the Xplorer GLX to record and display the voltage. Determine the time
constant of the circuit from the graph of voltage versus time. Compare the time constant to the
product of the capacitance, C, of the capacitor and the resistance, R, of the resistor.

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 187

Activity 25

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

PS-2826

Safety Precaution

Follow all directions for using the equipment.

Procedure
GLX Setup
1.

Turn on the GLX ( ) and open the GLX setup file

labeled time constant. (Check the Appendix at the
end of this activity.)

2.

The GLX displays a Graph screen of Voltage (V)

versus Time (s). The file is set to measure voltage
100 times per second (100 Hz).

3.

Plug a Voltage Probe into the voltage input port

on the left side of the Xplorer GLX.

Fig. 2: GLX Graph

Equipment Setup
1.

Put two D cells into the battery holder (from the CASTLE Kit).

2.

Set up a circuit with one 10 ohm (10 )

resistor, the 25,000 microfarad (25,000 F
or 0.025 F) capacitor, and the voltage
source as shown.

Be careful to connect an alligator clip to the

spring in the battery holder as shown.

4.

Leave one clip disconnected until you are

ready to collect data.

5.

Put alligator clip adapters on the ends of the

Voltage Probe.

6.

Connect the Voltage Probe to the posts on

the top of the capacitor.

Record Data

NOTE: The procedure is easier if one person

handles the equipment and a second person
handles the Xplorer GLX.

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

Fig. 3: Equipment setup

p. 188

Activity 25

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

PS-2826

Charge the Capacitor

1.

Press Start (

) on the GLX to start recording data.

2.

Wait about 2 seconds and then connect the clip to the voltage source to complete the
circuit. Watch the Voltage-Time Graph on the
GLX.

3.

When the voltage reaches its maximum value

and does not change, disconnect the resistor
from the voltage source to open the circuit.
DO NOT STOP RECORDING DATA YET.

Discharge the Capacitor

1.

Move the clip that had been connected to the

voltage source to the end of the resistor that
was previously connected to the battery holder
as shown.

2.

Watch the Voltage-Time Graph on the GLX.

3.

When the voltage reaches its minimum value

and does not change anymore, press
stop data recording.

to
Fig. 4: Discharge capacitor

Analysis

Examine your graph of voltage versus time to find the maximum voltage.
1.

In the Graph screen, move the cursor to the maximum value of voltage and record the value
in the Data Table.

Use the data during the charging of the capacitor to find the time to
charge to 63.2% of the maximum voltage.
2.

Calculate the voltage that is 63.2% of the maximum voltage

and record the value.

3.

Move the cursor to the point on the Graph screen where the
capacitor begins to charge. Press
to open the Tools
menu and select Delta Tool.

4.

Carefully move the cursor to the point closest to the voltage

that is 63.2% of maximum and record the time displayed by
the Delta Tool.

Fig. 5: Select Delta Tool

Use the data for the discharging of the capacitor to find the time to discharge to 36.8% of
maximum voltage.
5.

Calculate the voltage that is 36.8% of the maximum voltage and record the value. Subtract
that voltage from the maximum voltage to determine the change in voltage from the
maximum to the value that is 36.8% of maximum. (For example, if the maximum voltage is
3 V, and the value that is 36.8% of maximum is 1 V, the change in voltage is 2 V.)

6.

Turn off Delta Tool for the moment.

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 189

Activity 25

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

PS-2826

7.

Move the cursor to the point on the Graph screen where the capacitor begins to discharge,
and turn on the Delta Tool again.

8.

Carefully move the cursor until the Delta Tool shows the change in voltage you calculated
previously. Record the time displayed by the Delta Tool.

9.

Calculate the average of the two times.

Calculate the theoretical value for the capacitive time constant based on the resistance and
capacitance values on the resistor and capacitor, respectively. Compare the average of your
experimental results to the theoretical value.

Extension
Repeat the procedure with a light bulb instead of a resistor.
Record your results and answer the questions in the Lab Report section.

Appendix: Opening a GLX File

To open a specific GLX file, go to the Home Screen ( ). In the Home Screen, select Data Files
and press
to activate your choice. In the Data Files screen, use the arrow keys to navigate to
the file you want. Press
to open the file. Press the Home button to return to the Home
Screen. Press
to open the Graph.

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 190

Activity 25

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

PS-2826

Lab Report Activity 25: Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

Name ________________________________ Date ___________
Data
Sketch a graph of voltage versus time. Include units and labels for your axes.

Data Table
Item

Value

Resistance of resistor
Capacitance of capacitor
Maximum voltage
63.2% of maximum voltage
Time to 63.2% of max. voltage
36.8% of maximum voltage
Time to 36.8% of max. voltage
Average time constant
Theoretical time constant
Percent difference

%diff

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

2006 PASCO

p. 191

Activity 25

Time Constant of a Resistor-Capacitor Circuit

PS-2826

Calculations
Based on the maximum voltage, calculate and record the value that is 63.2% of maximum, and the
value that is 36.8% of maximum.
Calculate the average time constant based on the two experimental values.
Calculate the theoretical capacitive time constant, , based on R and C, where .
Calculate the percent difference between the theoretical and average values of the time constant.

Questions
1.

Is the Voltage Probe placed in parallel or in series in this circuit? Explain.

2.

What component of the circuit is the Voltage Probe measuring?

3.

How does your average experimental value for the time constant compare to the theoretical
value?

4.

What are some reasons for the difference, if any, between the average experimental value
and the theoretical value of the time constant?

5.

The time constant is the produce of resistance, measured in ohms, and capacitance,
measured in farads. Use the following definitions of units to show algebraically that the unit
for the time constant is seconds.
ohm =

volt
,
amp

farad =

coulomb
,
volt

Introductory Physics with the Xplorer GLX

amp =

coulomb
second

2006 PASCO

p. 192