NAME: _____________________________________________________ AP E&M

RC CIRCUITS POGIL

Introduction

Exponential decay is the decrease in a quantity according to the equation: 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑒 −𝐵𝑥 . Here are some
examples of exponential decay functions and their graphs:

𝑦 = 4𝑒 −0.2𝑥 𝑦 = 8𝑒 −0.2𝑥 𝑦 = 8𝑒 −0.4𝑥

1. (a) What does the coefficient A represent?

(b) How does changing the value of A change the features/shape of the graphs?

2. (a) What does the coefficient B represent?

(b) How does changing the value of B change the features/shape of the graphs?

MODEL 1: Current in an RC circuit during charging

In a simple RC circuit, the current as a function of time obeys an

exponential decay function. In this activity, you will determine
how the decay function depends on the circuit’s emf, resistance,
and capacitance.

An ammeter is connected to an RC circuit. Various experiments

are conducted in which the emf, resistance, and capacitance are
changed. For each experiment, a current vs. time graph is A
created from the data and the best fit function is determined.

(Simulation to help visualize the graphs: http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/HTML5/RC_circuit.html)

Experiment A: Changing the emf

𝐼 = 1𝑒 −0.2𝑡 𝐼 = 2𝑒 −0.2𝑡 𝐼 = 4𝑒 −0.2𝑡

A1 A2 A3
E=2V E=4V E=8V
R=2 R=2 R=2
C = 2.5 F C = 2.5 F C = 2.5 F

3. How does changing the emf change the features/shape of the graphs? Explain why this is so.

4. (a) Which is the relationship between the A coefficient and the emf? (k is a proportionality constant)
direct inverse 𝑘
𝐴 = 𝑘ℰ 𝐴= no relationship
proportion proportion ℰ

(b) Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

5. (a) Which is the relationship between the B coefficient and the emf? (k is a proportionality constant)
direct inverse 𝑘
𝐵 = 𝑘ℰ 𝐵 = no relationship
proportion proportion ℰ

(b) Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

6. The A coefficient in the current equations represents (circle one): E R C I0

7. How can you determine the value of A if you know the circuit’s emf E, resistance R, and capacitance C?
Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

8. Which of the following equations correctly model Experiments A1, A2, and A3? Circle all that apply.
ℰ −0.2𝑡
𝐼 = ℰ𝑒 −0.2𝑡 𝐼 = 𝑅𝑒 −0.2𝑡 𝐼= 𝑒 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −0.2𝑡
𝑅
Experiment B: Changing the capacitance

𝐼 = 1.5𝑒 −0.25𝑡 𝐼 = 1.5𝑒 −0.1𝑡 𝐼 = 1.5𝑒 −0.05𝑡

B1 B2 B3
E=6V E=6V E=6V
R=4 R=4 R=4
C=1F C = 2.5 F C=5F

9. How does changing the capacitance change the features/shape of the graphs? Explain why this is so.

10. (a) Which is the relationship between the A coefficient and the capacitance?
direct inverse 𝑘
𝐴 = 𝑘𝐶 𝐴= no relationship
proportion proportion 𝐶

(b) Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

11. (a) Which is the relationship between the B coefficient and the capacitance?
direct inverse 𝑘
𝐵 = 𝑘𝐶 𝐵 = no relationship
proportion proportion 𝐶

(b) Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

12. Which of the following equations correctly model Experiments B1, B2, and B3?
(k is a proportionality constant)

𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −(𝑘𝐶)𝑡 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −(𝑘/𝐶)𝑡 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝑡

Experiment C: Changing the resistance

𝐼 = 6𝑒 −0.5𝑡 𝐼 = 3𝑒 −0.25𝑡 𝐼 = 1.5𝑒 −0.125𝑡

C1 C2 C3
E=6V E=6V E=6V
R=1 R=2 R=4
C=2F C=2F C=2F

13. How does changing the resistance change the features/shape of the graphs? Explain why this is so.

14. (a) Which is the relationship between the A coefficient and the resistance?
direct inverse 𝑘
𝐴 = 𝑘𝑅 𝐴 = no relationship
proportion proportion 𝑅

(b) Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

15. (a) Which is the relationship between the B coefficient and the resistance?
direct inverse 𝑘
𝐵 = 𝑘𝑅 no relationship
proportion proportion 𝐵 = 𝑅

(b) Support your answer with evidence from the experiments above.

16. Which of the following equations correctly model Experiments C1, C2, and C3?
(k is a proportionality constant)

𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −(𝑘𝑅/𝐶)𝑡 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −(𝑘/𝑅𝐶)𝑡 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −(𝑘/𝑅)𝑡 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅

17. (a) Determine the value of the proportionality constant k. Show your work.

(b) Write the final equation for I in terms of I0, R, C, and t:

MODEL 2: Voltage in an RC circuit during charging

18. In the previous question, you determined that the general equation for the current is 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 .
Knowing this, determine a general equation for VR , the voltage across the resistor R in the circuit.
Show your steps.

Experiment D: Voltage across the resistor during charging

𝐼 = 6𝑒 −0.5𝑡 𝐼 = 3𝑒 −0.25𝑡 𝐼 = 4𝑒 −0.2𝑡

𝑉𝑅 = 6𝑒 −0.5𝑡 𝑉𝑅 = 6𝑒 −0.25𝑡 𝑉𝑅 = 8𝑒 −0.2𝑡

D1 D2 D3
E=6V E=6V E=8V
R=1 R=2 R=2
C=2F C=2F C = 2.5 F

19. The three experiments above show the graphs for the current and the voltage across the resistor
while the capacitor is charging. Based on these results, determine if the equation for VR that you
derived in #18 is correct. Show your steps.

20. (a) The A coefficient in the VR equations represents (circle one): E R C I0

(b) Write the general equation for VR in terms of E, R, C, and t: ______________________________________________

21. (a) On each of the 3 voltage graphs above, sketch a curve to represent VC , the voltage across the
capacitor during charging. Include key features like starting points and asymptotes.

(b) Write the VC equations for each of the 3 graphs you drew in part (a). (HINT: Recall the loop rule!)
Experiment E: Voltage across the capacitor during charging
The same three experiments from Experiment D are repeated. This time, the voltage across the capacitor
is also measured while the capacitor is charging.

𝐼 = 6𝑒 −0.5𝑡 𝐼 = 3𝑒 −0.25𝑡 𝐼 = 4𝑒 −0.2𝑡

𝑉𝐶 = 6(1 − 𝑒 −0.5𝑡 ) 𝑉𝐶 = 6(1 − 𝑒 −0.25𝑡 )

𝑉𝐶 = 8(1 − 𝑒 −0.2𝑡 )

𝑉𝑅 = 6𝑒 −0.5𝑡 𝑉𝑅 = 6𝑒 −0.25𝑡 𝑉𝑅 = 8𝑒 −0.2𝑡

E1 E2 E3
E=6V E=6V E=8V
R=1 R=2 R=2
C=2F C=2F C = 2.5 F

22. Based on these results, determine if your three VC equations from 21(b) are correct. Show your steps.

23. (a) The A coefficient in the VC equations represents (circle one): E R C I0

(b) Write the general equation for VC in terms of E, R, C, and t: ______________________________________________

24. Use the general equation for VC that you just derived to determine a general equation for Q, the charge
stored on the capacitor while it is charging. Show your steps.
MODEL 4: Charge in an RC circuit when charging

Experiment F: Charge on the capacitor during charging

The same three experiments from Experiment E are repeated. This time, the charge on the capacitor is
measured while it is charging.

𝑄 = 12(1 − 𝑒 −0.5𝑡 ) 𝑄 = 12(1 − 𝑒 −0.25𝑡 ) 𝑄 = 20(1 − 𝑒 −0.2𝑡 )

F1 F2 F3
E=6V E=6V E=8V
R=1 R=2 R=2
C=2F C=2F C = 2.5 F

25. Based on these results, determine if your Q equation from #24 is correct. Show your steps.

26. (a) The A coefficient in the Q equations represents (circle one): E VC Q0 Qf

(b) Which of the following equations correctly model Experiments F1, F2, and F3? Circle all that apply.
ℰ
𝑄 = ℰ(1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 ) 𝑄 = ℰ𝐶(1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 ) 𝑄= (1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 ) 𝑄 = 𝑄𝑓 (1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 )
𝑅

MODEL 5: Current, voltage, and charge in an RC circuit when discharging

An RC circuit is charged and then discharged (see diagram below). The current, voltage across the
resistor, voltage across the capacitor, and charge on the capacitor are all measured and graphed below for
both phases.

(c)
Experiment G: Charging and discharging the capacitor

CHARGING

𝑉𝐶 = 6(1 − 𝑒 −0.2𝑡 ) 𝑄 = 15(1 − 𝑒 −0.2𝑡 )

𝐼 = 3𝑒 −0.2𝑡

𝑉𝑅 = 6𝑒 −0.2𝑡

DISCHARGING

𝐼 = 3𝑒 −0.2𝑡 𝑉𝐶 = 6𝑒 −0.2𝑡 𝑄 = 15𝑒 −0.2𝑡

𝑉𝑅 = 6𝑒 −0.2𝑡

27. Using only the information given in the 3 charging graphs above, determine the values for this
circuit’s emf E, resistance R, and capacitance C. Justify and/or show your work.

28. Compare and contrast the discharging graphs with the charging graphs. What is the same/different?

29. Explain why VC and VR are equal when discharging. (HINT: See circuit diagram on previous page.)

30. Determine the general form for each of the 4 discharging equations in terms of E, R, C, and t.