Lab Experiment No.

09
To trace the response of capacitor during charging and discharging Capacitor

Name: RollNo:

Score: Signature of Lab Tutor: Date:

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE:
Upon successful completion of this experiment, the student will be able to
➢ Understand and trace the exponential behavior of the voltage and
current during charging and discharging of capacitors
➢ Analyze and calculate the RC time constant of circuit
EQUIPMENTS:
➢ Capacitor (approximately1mf)
➢ Resistor
➢ Dc power supply up to10v
➢ Dc voltmeter
➢ Dc millimeter
➢ Stop watch or timer
NOTE:
➢ Take care of equipment; they can be damaged by miss use
➢ Connect the short circuit link across the capacitors for a few seconds to quickly
discharge the capacitors
➢ In taking the reading it may help to have person to watch the clock or timer while second
take the voltage readings and third person takes the current readings
➢ Keep the switch position at a when capacitor is changed and move towards b while
discharging
➢ Before switch on your circuit please get it checked by your teacher
THEORY:
Any two conducting surfaces separated by an insulating material is called a capacitor. Consider
the circuit as shown in fig consisting of an uncharged capacitor c in series with a resistor to a
dc supply of V volts. when a switch s is connected to a time t=0 the voltage across capacitor c
does not rise to v instantaneously but builds up slowly depending upon value of r and the
product of R and C is called time constant of the circuit it determines how fast charging and
dis charging takes place. Charging current is maximum at the start i-e when C is uncharged
then it gradually decreases and finally ceases when potential difference across capacitor plates
become equal and opposite that of dc power supply. When switch S is shifted to b which
effectively takes the dc power supply out of the circuit the voltage across capacitor is v volts.
The capacitor discharges through the resistor and voltage across capacitor is exponentially
decreases at the start of discharger current is maximum and opposite direction but then
exponentially decrease till it ceases when capacitor is fully discharge

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
1. Make necessary connection as shown in figure
2. Set the dc voltmeter to its 10-vrange
3. Set the dc milli-ammeter to its I milli-range
4. Switch on the power supply and adjust the dc power supply to obtain a 10-v
reading on the voltmeter

Fig 8.1 charging and discharging of a capacitor

EXPERIMENT RESULTS:
1. At time t=0 set the switch to a position and simultaneously start the timer then record
in the charging column the voltmeter readings at given time intervals in table similarly
record the current readings in charging column of the given time intervals of same table
2. During discharging of capacitor at time t=0 move switch b position take reading at the
same time intervals as before and complete the discharging columns of voltage and
current table1
3. From the recorded readings plot the voltage and current readings of charging in graph
against time
4. From the recorded readings pot the voltage and current readings of discharging inn
graph against time
 5. Calculate the RC time constant of circuit of figure Table.1

S. No: P.D across capacitor

Time (sec)
Charging Discharging

CONCLUSION:
At the end of completion of this experiment, the student will be able to understand the exponential
behavior of the voltage and current during charging and dis-charging of capacitors in addition to
this also analyze and calculate the RC time constant of circuit

REFERENCES:
• https://www.slideshare.net/pdrpatnaik/lab-05-cap-analysis
• https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/charging-discharging-cap/chpt-7/analysis-
technique/
FINAL CHECK LIST:
1. Clean your equipment/ materials and workbenches before you leave
2. Return all equipment and materials to their proper storage area
3. Submit your answers to questions, together with your data, calculations and results
before the next laboratory
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Give your comment why capacitor draws a maximum current at the starting period of charging
and discharging?
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2. Which factors are affecting the capacitance of capacitor?
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3. How much time taken by the capacitor of circuit as shown in figure when its fully discharged?
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4. Draw a neat and clean graph of chagrining and Discharging of capacitor?