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AP Physics C - RC Circuits PDF
AP Physics C - RC Circuits PDF
Circuits
AP Physics C
RC Circuit – Initial Conditions
An RC circuit is one where you have a capacitor
and resistor in the same circuit.
Time(s)
Voltage Across the Resistor - Initially
If we assume the battery
ε has NO internal resistance,
the voltage across the
resistor will be the EMF.
VResistor
t (sec)
After a very long time, Vcap= ε, as a result the potential difference between
these two points will be ZERO. Therefore, there will be NO voltage drop
across the resistor after the capacitor charges.
t (sec)
Since the voltage drop across the resistor decreases as the capacitor
charges, the current across the resistor will reach ZERO after a very
long time.
Vcap ε
t (sec)
t (sec)
Since the capacitor is in SERIES with the resistor the current will
decrease as the potential difference between it and the battery
approaches zero. It is the potential difference which drives the value for
the current.
Note: This is while the capacitor is CHARGING.
Time Domain Behavior
The graphs we have just seen show us that this process
depends on the time. Let’s look then at the UNITS of
both the resistance and capacitance.
Unit for Resistance = Ω = Volts/Amps
Unit for Capacitance = Farad = Coulombs/Volts
The time constant is the time that it takes for the capacitor to reach 63%
of the EMF value during charging.
Charging Behavior
ε
Is there a function that will allow us to
calculate the voltage at any given time “t”?
Vcap ε
t (sec)
We now have a first order differential equation.
Charging function
ε
•Re-arranging algebraically.
•Getting the common denominator
•Separating the numerator from the denominator,
•Cross multiplying.
•Since both changing variables are on opposite
side we can now integrate.
Charging function
q
ε
t
dq 1
∫q=0 q − Cε = − RC t =∫0dt
Cε − q t However if we divide our function by
ln( )=− a CONSTANT, in this case “C”, we
Cε RC get our voltage function.
q − Cε −t −t
= e RC q(t ) Cε (1 − e RC
)
− Cε =
−t
C C
q − Cε = −Cε e RC
−t
V (t ) = ε (1 − e RC
)
−t −t
q(t ) = Cε − Cε e RC
= Cε (1 − e RC
)
As it turns out we have derived a function
that defines the CHARGE as a function of
time.
Let’s test our function
−t ε 0.98ε
V (t ) = ε (1 − e RC
) 0.95ε
0.86ε
− RC
V (1RC ) = ε (1 − e RC
) 0.63ε Steady
Transient State
V (1RC ) = ε (1 − e −1 ) = 0.63εε State
V (2 RC ) = 0.86εε
V (3RC ) = 0.95εε
1RC 2RC 31RC 4RC
V (4 RC ) = 0.98εε
Applying each time constant produces the charging curve we see. For practical
purposes the capacitor is considered fully charged after 4-5 time constants(
steady state). Before that time, it is in a transient state.
Charging Functions
−t
q(t ) = Cε (1 − e RC
)
−t
−t V (t ) ε (1 − e RC
)
V (t ) = ε (1 − e RC
)→ =
R R
−t
RC
I (t ) = I o (1 − e )
t (sec)
Capacitor Discharge – Resistor’s Current
Similar to its charging graph, the current
through the resistor must decrease as the
voltage drop decreases due to the loss of
charge on the capacitor.
I=ε/R
IResistor
t (sec)
Capacitor Discharge – Capacitor's Voltage
The discharging graph for the capacitor is
the same as that of the resistor. There WILL
be a time delay due to the TIME CONSTANT
of the circuit.
I=ε/R
Icap
t (sec)
Discharging Functions
0 − IR − Vcap = 0
dq q
− R− =0
dt C Once again we start with KVL,
dq q dq q however, the reason we start
R=− → =− with ZERO is because the
dt C dt RC SOURCE is now gone from
the circuit.
q t
1 1
∫q q dq = − RC t =∫0dt
o
Discharging Functions
q t
1 1 q t
∫q q dq = − RC t =∫0dt → ln( ) = −
qo RC
o
t t
q −
RC
−
RC
=e → q(t ) = qo e
qo
Dividing by " C" then " R"
t
−
RC
V (t ) = ε o e We now can calculate the charge,
−
t current, or voltage for any time “t”
RC during the capacitors discharge.
I (t ) = I o e