Experiment 8

The R-C Circuit

Name : Ramla Alqallaf

ID: 202011683

Sec: 11
 1- Experiment Objectives

1- To study charging and discharging of a capacitor

2- To determine the time constant of an R-C circuit.

2.Apparatus:
Power supply, resistor (1 MΩ), capacitor (100μF ), ammeter, timer, connecting
cables.

3.Brief Theoretical Introduction:

When a charged capacitor discharges through a resistance, the potential difference

across the capacitor decreases exponentially. The voltage across the capacitor in
this case is given by:

where 𝑽𝒐 is the potential across the capacitor at time t =0.

The RC time constant (τ ) is defined as the time it takes for the voltage to drop to
37% of its original value (when the voltage is 1/e of its original value).

If the voltage vs. time is graphed on Cartesian coordinates, the result is an

exponential decay curve.
From this curve it is possible to determine the time constant , by locating the 1/e
point when the voltage 𝑽𝒐 has dropped to 37% of its original value. From this point
(voltage value) a horizontal line is drawn to the curve and then extended down
(vertically) to a point on the x(time)- axis. This time is the RC time (τ ) .
 5.Data and Data Analysis:

V0 =10.12(V)
R =10 (M) Rv = 10(M)
Req =5x106() C =100 (F)
calculated (th)= ReqC =500

t (min) Vc (V) Ln(Vc)

1 8.33 2.119863
2 7.31 1.989243

3 6.45 1.86408

4 5.76 1.750937

5 5.08 1.625311

6 4.53 1.510722

7 4.03 1.393766

8 3.57 1.272566

9 3.18 1.156881

10 2.84 1.043804

11 2.54 0.932164

12 2.29 0.828552

13 2.05 0.71784

14 1.84 0.609766

15 1.64 0.494696

20 0.96 -0.04082

Plot a graph of VC vs. t

  Discharging graph and it’s not linear. It’s exponential decay.

then find the

τ ex = 456 sec
% error in τ = 8.8%

Plot ln(VC ) vs. t and describe the graph.

 It’s a linear discharging graph and it’s decreasing

 slope = -0.114

 slope represent =-1/ τ

 value of τ = 8.77

 % τ = 0.34%
6- Conclusions:
We learn that When the graph increases, the capacitor is being charged, and when it

decreases, it is being discharged. As a result, the charging and discharging process is

exponential.And we learn how to determine the time constant of an R-C circuit.