Introductory Physics II

Chapter 26 – Part 2
RC circuits
Examples

Lecture 13 – March 2
Outline of chapter 26

• Internal resistance of a battery

• Resistors in series and in parallel
• Kirchhoff’s rules
• Circuits with resistors and capacitors (RC circuits)
• Instruments for electrical measurements

New concepts/quantities
• Series and parallel connections (not really new)
• Junctions
• Loops
• Time constant of RC circuit
• Ammeter, voltmeter
 Batteries in series and parallel

Series connection

• The EMFs of the batteries add up (good)

• The internal resistances add up too (side effect)
• Usual connection in battery powered devices (flashlights, remote controls,
toys, etc.)

Parallel connection

• Batteries with the same EMF (E) – the equivalent EMF is equal to E
• The internal resistances are in parallel – reduced internal resistance
• Total current is the sum of the currents provided by each battery
• Batteries with different EMF – one is charging the other one (battery
packs or jump staring the car)
 Resistance-Capacitance (RC) Circuits
i
Loop rule after switch
closed to position a:
q
E − iR − = 0
𝐶

Potential difference
Start here across the capacitor

• We have the variables i and q in the equation.

• Fortunately, they are connected.
𝑑𝑞
• Unfortunately, the connection is through a derivative: 𝑖 =
𝑑𝑡
 RC Circuits
q
E − iR − = 0
𝐶
𝑑𝑞 𝑞
𝐸−𝑅 − =0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶

𝑑𝑞 𝐸 𝑞
= −
𝑑𝑡 𝑅 𝑅𝐶

𝑑𝑞 1
= (𝐶𝐸 − 𝑞)
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐶
Note that RC has the dimensions of time.
Without solving the equation, you
 = RC is the time constant of the circuit.
could tell that as the charge on 𝑉 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞
the capacitor increases, the 𝑅𝐶 = = = = [𝑡]
𝑖 𝑉 𝑖 𝑞/𝑡
current decreases.
[…] stands for “the dimension of …”
 RC Circuits
Separate the q and t variables:

dq dt
=−
(q − E C ) RC
Integrate both sides:
𝑞 𝑡
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡 q0 is the initial charge on the capacitor.
න = −න It is zero on a discharged capacitor.
𝑞0 𝑞 − 𝐸𝐶 0 𝑅𝐶
𝑡
𝑙𝑛 𝑞 − 𝐸𝐶 − 𝑙𝑛 𝑞0 − 𝐸𝐶 = −
𝑅𝐶
𝑞 − 𝐸𝐶 𝑡
𝑙𝑛 =−
𝑞0 − 𝐸𝐶 𝑅𝐶
 RC Circuits

Process the last equations a little bit to find q as a function of t:

𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶
𝑞 − 𝐸𝐶 = 𝑞0 − 𝐸𝐶 𝑒

𝑡 𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶 − 𝑅𝐶
Master 𝑞 = 𝐸𝐶 1 − 𝑒 + 𝑞0 𝑒
Equation

Charging Discharging

𝑞0
𝑑𝑞 𝐸𝐶 − 𝑞0 − 𝑡 𝐸− 𝐶 −𝑡
𝑖= = 𝑒 𝑅𝐶 = 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐶 𝑅
If the potential differences are needed, remember that VR=iR and VC=q/C.
 RC Circuits
When charging, q0 = 0 (this is the usual situation but not
always; charging may start with some initial charge already
on the capacitor) 𝑡 𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶 − 𝑅𝐶
𝑞 = 𝐸𝐶 1 − 𝑒 + 𝑞0 𝑒
𝑡
−
𝑞 = 𝐸𝐶 1 − 𝑒 𝑅𝐶

𝑑𝑞 𝐸 − 𝑡
𝑖= = 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑑𝑡 𝑅

t=0 q=0, i=E/R

t-->  q=EC, i=0

 RC Circuits

When discharging, E = 0.
𝑡 𝑡
− t − 𝑅𝐶 − 𝑅𝐶
𝑞 = 𝐸𝐶 1 − 𝑒 + 𝑞0 𝑒
q = q 0e RC

𝑑𝑞 𝑞0 − 𝑡
𝑖= =− 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐶
q0
t=0 q=qo, i=- qo/RC

t-->  q=0, i=0

 Current during charging and discharging a
capacitor

𝑑𝑞 𝐸 − 𝑡 𝑑𝑞 𝑞0 − 𝑡
𝑖= = 𝑒 𝑅𝐶 𝑖= =− 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑑𝑡 𝑅 𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐶
charging discharging

• In both cases the current has a maximum value at t=0 and then decreases
to zero.
• For charging capacitor, the initial current has a value as if there was just
the battery and the resistor in the circuit. So the capacitor acts like a zero
resistance resistor when is completely discharged.
• When the capacitor is fully charged the current is zero. The capacitor acts
as an open switch.
 Ammeter and Voltmeter
• An ammeter measures current.
• A voltmeter measures a potential difference.
• Ammeters and Voltmeters are placed in a circuit as shown.
• It is very important to pay attention to the right way to connect
the instrument.
Ammeter and Voltmeter
• The instruments should not
change the circuit whose
properties they are measuring.
• An ideal ammeter has no
internal resistance.
• An ideal voltmeter has a very
large resistance.