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RC Circuit Charging Study

June 3, 2023

physics cbse 12th project to study the charging and discharging of capacitor in rc circuit

Title: Study of Charging and Discharging of a Capacitor in an RC Circuit

Abstract: The aim of this project is to investigate the process of charging and discharging of a capacitor in an RC
(Resistor-Capacitor) circuit. The project involves the experimental study of the voltage-time relationship during
the charging and discharging processes. Additionally, the project explores the mathematical models that describe
these processes and examines the factors affecting the charging and discharging time constants.

Introduction: A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electric charge. When a capacitor is connected to
a voltage source through a resistor, it undergoes a charging process where it accumulates charge. Subsequently,
when the voltage source is disconnected, the capacitor discharges through the resistor. The RC circuit is a
common configuration that demonstrates these charging and discharging phenomena.

Objective:

1. To study the charging process of a capacitor in an RC circuit.

2. To study the discharging process of a capacitor in an RC circuit.
3. To analyze the factors affecting the charging and discharging time constants.

Materials:

1. Capacitor (Electrolytic or Ceramic)

2. Resistor
3. Power supply
4. Breadboard or circuit board
5. Connecting wires
6. Multimeter
7. Stopwatch or timer

Experimental Procedure:

1. Construct the RC circuit by connecting the resistor and capacitor in series.

2. Connect the circuit to the power supply and ensure that the switch is initially open.
3. Measure the resistance of the resistor using the multimeter and record it.
4. Set the power supply to a suitable voltage value (e.g., 5V) and connect it to the circuit.
5. Close the switch to initiate the charging process.
6. Measure and record the voltage across the capacitor at regular time intervals using the multimeter.
7. Continue measuring the voltage until it reaches approximately 95% of the power supply voltage.
8. Open the switch to disconnect the power supply and initiate the discharging process.
9. Measure and record the voltage across the capacitor at regular time intervals until it reaches a low value.
10. Repeat the experiment with different resistance values and analyze the effect on the charging and
discharging time constants.

Data Collection and Analysis:

 1. Tabulate the time and corresponding voltage values obtained during the charging and discharging
processes.
2. Plot two separate graphs: one for the charging process and another for the discharging process.
3. Analyze the curves obtained and determine the time constants (τ) for both processes.
4. Calculate the theoretical time constants using the formula τ = RC, where R is the resistance and C is the
capacitance.
5. Compare the experimental and theoretical time constants to evaluate the accuracy of the measurements.
6. Investigate the influence of different resistance values on the time constants and observe any trends.

Conclusion: Through this project, we have successfully studied the charging and discharging processes of a
capacitor in an RC circuit. By analyzing the obtained data and comparing it with theoretical calculations, we can
conclude that the experimental results align well with the expected behavior. The project also highlights the
impact of resistance on the charging and discharging time constants, providing insights into the practical
applications of capacitors in electronic circuits.
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