1.

Analysis and discussion

Chargi Discharg
Time(seco ng V'c ing Vc
nd) (V) (V)
0 0 10.88
10 7.11 9.99
20 9.35 9.07
30 10.35 8.23
40 10.7 7.53
50 10.8 6.85
60 10.84 6.25
70 10.86 5.71
80 10.86 5.22
90 10.86 4.75
100 10.87 4.35
110 10.87 3.98
120 10.87 3.66
130 10.87 3.33
140 10.87 3.04
150 10.87 2.78
160 10.87 2.54
170 10.88 2.33
180 10.88 2.14
190 10.88 1.95
200 10.88 1.78

a. Plot the graph VC versus t for charging.

Answer:

Charging V'c (V)

12

10

8
Voltage(V)

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Time(seconds)
b. Determine the charging time constant (τ) from the plot (remember that τ corresponds to
the time at which the voltage across the capacitor equals to 0.63V C).
Answer:
Maximum voltage from the graph= 10.88V
Voltage across the capacitor=0.63 ×10.88 V =6.8544V
Time corresponding to 6.8544V on graph= 9 s
Charging time constant(τ) = 9 s

c. Plot a graph VC versus t for discharging.

Answer:

Discharging Vc (V)
12

10

8
Voltage (V)

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Time (second)

d. Determine the discharging time constant (τ) from the plot (remember that τ here
corresponds to the time at which the voltage across the capacitor equals to 0.37V C).
Answer:
Voltage across the capacitor=0.37×10.88 V =4.0256 V
Time corresponding to 4.0256V on graph= 108s
Time required to discharged is 10 times of time constant
Discharging time constant(τ) = 10.8s

e. Compare between the measured value of time constant (τ) and the calculated time
constant (τ = RC). Calculate the percentage error.
Answer:
Calculated time constant:
Resistance(R)=1MΩ=1×106 Ω
Capacitor(C)=10 µF=10 ×10-6 F
time constant (τ )= RC
= ( 1×106 Ω) (10 ×10-6 F)
= 10 s
 the measured value of time constant (τ)
Measured value of Charging time constant((τ)=9 s
τ calculated −τ measured
Error=
τ calculated
10−9
Error¿ ×100
10
1
¿ ×10 0
10
¿ 10 %

Measured value of Discharging time constant((τ)=10.8

τ measured −τ
Error= calculated

τ calculated

10.8−10
Error¿ × 100
10
0.8
¿ ×10 0
10
¿8%

f. Discuss any source of the error in your conclusion.

Answer:
Errors are random error which is due to negligence of person or error in voltmeter (zero
error).