Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Experiment No:
Date of Performance: / / Timely Completion: /10
Date of Assessment: / / Understanding: /10
Presentation: /10
Signature of Faculty:
Total: /30
Title: Charging and Discharging of Capacitor:
Aim: To calculate and measure of charging and discharging voltage of capacitor and observe
the response on storage oscilloscope.
Prerequisite:
(1) Fundamental of capacitor
(2) Concept of charge, current , voltage
(3) Basic terms in electrostatic.
Learning outcomes: At the end of this experiment students will be able to
(1) Derive charging and discharging voltage, current in RC circuit connected to DC supply.
(2) Justify initial and final value of capacitor voltage and current.
(3) Define time constant and elaborate significance of the same.
Theory:
Consider a capacitor C is in series with the resistance R. The capacitor has initially no charge
and no voltage across it. When switch S is closed at t=0, the R-C series circuit will get connect
to supply voltage V.
S
t=0 R i

C Vc
V

At t=0-: when switch ‘S’ is in OFF condition

Current through capacitor i=0
Voltage across capacitor vc=0
At t=0-: when switch ‘S’ is in ON condition
V
Current through capacitor i=imax=
R
Voltage across capacitor vc=0
At t=∞:
Current through capacitor i=0
Voltage across capacitor vc=V
Mathematical Analysis:
Let vc=voltage across capacitor at instant
q=charge on capacitor at any instant
i=current through capacitor at any instant.
By Kirchhoff’s law
V = iR + vc ..................................... (1)
But current through capacitor is

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

dvc
i=C ..................................... (2)
dt
From equation (1) and (2)
dv
V = CR c + v c
dt
dv
V − v c = CR c
dt
V − v c CR
=
dv c dt
dv c dt
=
V − v c CR
Taking integration on both side
dt dv c
 CR =  V − vc
t
= − ln( V − vc ) + K ..................................... (3)
CR
Where K is constant of integration
At t=0, vc=0 substituting in above equation
0
= − ln( V − 0) + K
CR
0 = − ln( V ) + K
K = ln( V )
Substituting in equation (3)
t
= − ln( V − vc ) + ln( V )
CR
t  V 
= ln  
CR  V − v c 
Taking antilog of both side
t
V
e CR =
V − vc
V
V − vc = t
CR
e
V
vc = V − t
CR
e
 
 1 
v c = V 1 − t 
 
 e CR  ..................................... (4)
 
−t

v c (t ) = V 1 − e 
CR

 
At steady state V=Q/C

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Similarly at any instant vc=q/C

Substituting in above equations
q Q  
−t

= 1 − e CR 
C C 
 −t

 CR 
q(t ) = Q1 − e  ..................................... (5)
 
From KVL it is known that
V − vc = iR
V − vc
i=
R
From equation (5)
 −t

 CR 
V − V 1 − e 
i=  
R
−t

V − V + Ve CR
i=
R

−t
V
i (t ) = e CR .................................... (6)
R
Substitute above situation
Case1: When Switch S is closed at t=0
Substituting in equation (4), (5) and (6)
 −0

 CR 
vc (t ) = V 1 − e  = 0 as e0=1
 
 −0

q(t ) = Q1 − e CR  = 0
 
−0
V V
i (t ) = e CR =
R R
Case2:When Switch S is closed at t=∞
Substituting in equation (4), (5) and (6)
 −
 1
vc (t ) = V 1 − e CR  = V as e-∞= =0
  e
 −

q(t ) = Q1 − e CR  = Q
 
−
V
i (t ) = e CR =0
R

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Time constant:
The term CR in above in equation is called as time constant of the R-C charging circuit and
denoted by τ measured in sec.
When t=CR= τ
Substituting in equation (7) and (8)
−
 

vc ( ) = V 1 − e  ( )
 = V 1 − e −1 = 0.632V ..................................... (7)

 
−
V V V
i(t ) = e  = e −1 = 0.368 = 0.368imax
R R R

Time constant in R-C circuit can be defined as time required by the capacitor voltage to rise
from zero to 0.632 of its final steady state value during charging. OR
Time constant is the time required for the charging current of capacitor to fall to 0.368 of its
initial value, starting from its maximum value.

Discharging of Capacitor:
Now consider the capacitor C is being discharged through resistance R by closing switch S at
t=0. Let capacitor is fully charged with supply voltage V volts.

C R
Vc=V

At t=0-: when switch ‘S’ is in OFF condition

Current through capacitor i=0
Voltage across capacitor vc=V
At t=0-: when switch ‘S’ is in ON condition

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

V
Current through capacitor i=imax=- as current is opposite to charging current
R
Voltage across capacitor vc = V
At t=∞:
Current through capacitor i = 0
Voltage across capacitor vc= 0

Mathematical Analysis:
Let vc=voltage across capacitor at instant
q=charge on capacitor at any instant
i=current through capacitor at any instant.
By Kirchhoff’s law
vc = iR ..................................... (8)
But current through capacitor is
dv
i=C c ..................................... (9)
dt
From equation (8) and (9)
dv
v c = −CR c
dt
v CR
− c =
dv c dt
dv c dt
− =
vc CR
Taking integration on both side
dt dv c
 CR =  − vc
t
= − ln( v c ) + K ..................................... (10)
CR
Where K is constant of integration
At t=0, vc=V substituting in above equation
0
= − ln( V ) + K
CR
K = ln( V )
Substituting in equation (10)
t
= − ln( vc ) + ln( V )
CR
t V 
= ln  
CR  vc 
Taking antilog of both side
t
V
e CR =
vc

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

V
vc = t
CR
e
−t

vc (t ) = Ve CR .................................. (11)
At steady state V=Q/C
Similarly at any instant vc=q/C
Substituting in above equations
−t
q Q CR
= e
C C
−t

q(t ) = Qe CR ................................... (12)

From KVL it is known that
vc = −iR
− vc
i=
R
From equation (12)
−t

Ve CR
i=−
R

−t
V
i (t ) = − e CR ................................... (13)
R
Substitute above situation
Case1: When Switch S is closed at t=0
Substituting in equation (11), (12) and (13)
−0

vc (t ) = Ve CR = V as e0=1
−0

q(t ) = Qe CR = Q
−0
V CR V
i (t ) = − e =−
R R
Case2:When Switch S is closed at t=∞
Substituting in equation (11), (12) and (13)
−
1
v c (t ) = Ve = 0 as e-∞=
CR
=0
e
−

q(t ) = Qe CR = 0
−
V CR
i (t ) = − e =0
R

Time constant:
The term CR in above in equation is called as time constant of the R-C charging circuit and
denoted by τ measured in sec.
When t=CR= τ

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Substituting in equation (12) and (13)

 − 
vc ( ) = V  e  ( )
 = V e −1 = 0.368V
 ................................... (14)
 
−
V  V V
i(t ) = − e = − e −1 = −0.368 = −0.368imax
R R R

Time constant in R-C circuit can be defined as time required by the capacitor voltage to fall to
0.368 of its initial maximum value during discharging. OR
Time constant is the time required for the charging current of capacitor to fall to 0.368 of its
initial value, starting from its initial value.

Voltage Current
−
V −t
vc (t ) = Ve = 0
CR i(t ) = e CR
R
vC i
(volts) (Amp)  t (sec)
V
-0.368V

0.368V V
−
R
 t (sec)
−0
V −0 V
t=0 vc (t ) = Ve CR = V i(t ) = − e CR = −
R R
−
V −
t= vc (t ) = Ve CR = 0 i(t ) = − e CR = 0
R

Apparatus:
Sr. No. Equipment Specification
1 Resistor
2 Capacitor
3 Function Generator
4 Digital Voltmeter
5 Storage
Oscilloscope

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit diagram as shown in Fig.
2. Apply the square waveform from function generator at different amplitude & frequency.
3. Connect storage oscilloscope (channel 1) across capacitor & R2 (Channel 2).
4. Note down the voltmeter reading which indicate voltage across the capacitor with
respect to time.
5. Note down reading till voltage is constant across capacitor.
6. Observe the voltage & current waveform on storage oscilloscope.
7. Switch off the supply

Observation and Result Table:

Resistance R1= --------------------Ω, R2 = ---------- Ω
Capacitance C = ---------------------- F,
Time constant

Voltage Voltage
Charging Discharging Total
Vin Frequency across across
Sr. No. time time Period
(in V) (in Hz) Capacitor Capacitor
(Tc) Td (T)
(on DSO) (on DMM)

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Connection Diagram:

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Basic Electrical Engineering (2019 course) (Lab Manual)

Conclusion:
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LAB ASSIGNMENT
Multiple Choice Question

Q1) Fill in the blank: The final value of capacitor voltage in charging of /1M
capacitor is equal ................ and final value of capacitor voltage in discharging
of capacitor is equal........................

Q2) Fill in the blank: The initial value of capacitor voltage in charging of /1M
capacitor is equal .................. and final value of capacitor voltage in discharging
of capacitor is equal........................

Q3) The time constant in RC circuit is calculated as? /1M

• RC • R/C
• C/R • 1/RC

Q4) The final value of current in charging and discharging of capacitor is ____ /1M
• RC • infinity
• 0 • V/R

Theory Question
/1M
Q5) What is the significance of time constant in RC circuit?

Q6) What safety precautions have to be taken while performing experiment on /1M
capacitor? Why?

Q7) A 100uF capacitor has stored 10C charge. If you touch this capacitor, will
you get shock? Give justification with mathematical analysis. (Hint: Body /2M
resistance)

Q8) Two capacitors each of 100uF are available with you. If you need to charge /2M
this capacitor to 100V through 1000kOhm resistance. Which combination of
capacitor bank will charge it fast? Give mathematical justification. (Hint: Try
series and parallel combination)

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