Electricity and Magnetism

Today
RC Circuit Demos Electric Breakdown Experiment Ionization

Mar 22 2002

RC Circuits
First: Charging the capacitor

q(t)
63% q(t) = C[1-exp(-t/)]

I
+ -

100 F

U(t)

= rC

U(t) = q(t)2/C

4 kV
Mar 22 2002

r=100 k

RC Circuits
Then: Discharging the capacitor Wire: R = 0.1

q(t)

q(t) = C exp(-t/) 37%

U(t)

= RC
U(t) = q(t)2/C

Mar 22 2002

RC Circuits
But
charge = 100k x 100F = 10s discharge = 0.1 x 100F = 10s

U(t)

charge = rC
Mar 22 2002

discharge = RC

RC Circuits
Power?
Power = U/t -> SLOPE!

U(t)

charge = rC
Mar 22 2002

discharge = RC

Variable time constant = RC

In-Class Demo
R

C Vin

VC

Vin t
Mar 22 2002

Vin

In-Class Demo

VC

Mar 22 2002

Vin

In-Class Demo

VC

Mar 22 2002

In-Class Demo
Changes in R or C change Large smoothes out signals Sharp edges/rapid changes get removed
high frequencies are suppressed

RC circuits are low-pass filters

Mar 22 2002

Experiment EB
Electrical Breakdown
You have seen many examples
Lightning! Sparks (e.g. Faraday Cage Demo!) Fluorescent tubes

Study in more detail Reminder: Ionization

Mar 22 2002

Ionization
Electrons and nucleus bound together Electrons stuck in potential well of nucleus Need energy U to jump out of well How to provide this energy?

eMar 22 2002

Impact Ionization
eE
Define Vion = U/q Ionization potential One e- in, two e- out Avalanche?

Ukin > U

E
Mar 22 2002

Impact Ionization
(2)
mfp

(1) eE

mfp : Mean Free Path

To get avalanche we need:

Ukin between collisions (1) and (2) > Vion * e

Acceleration in uniform Field

Ukin = V2 V1 = e E d12
Avalanche condition then

E > Vion /mfp

Mar 22 2002

Impact Ionization
How big is Mean Free Path? (i) If Density n is big -> mfp small (ii) If size of molecules is big -> mfp small
Effective cross-section

mfp = 1/(n )

Mar 22 2002

Impact Ionization
Avalanche condition E > Vion /mfp = Vion n Experiment EB: Relate E, Vion , Example: Air n ~ 6x1023/22.4 10-3 m3 = 3 x 1025 m-3 ~ r2 ~ 3 x (10-10m)2 = 3 x 10-20 m2 Vion ~ 10 V Need E > 3 x 1025 m-3 x 3 x 10-20 m2 x 10 V ~ 107 V/m For V ~ 800 V: V = E d -> d = 800/107 m ~ 0.1 mm
Mar 22 2002

Experiment EB
V HVPS + V 1M 1M d

Mar 22 2002