Beirut Arab University

Electromagnetism Lab

Charging and Discharging of Capacitor

Spring 2017-18

Helmi Asaad 201701340

Nayef Abo Dahish 201701875

 Charging
Chargingand
andDischarging
DischargingofofCapacitor
Capacitor

Aim:
1.Measuring the charging and discharging curve of a capacitor.
2.Determine the time constant τ of RC-element.
 Charging
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andDischarging
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Theory:
Capacitors are devices that can store electric charge and energy. Capacitors pass AC
current, but not DC current
A capacitor can be slowly charged to the necessary voltage and then discharged
quickly to provide the energy needed.
A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by a small distance. The
capacitance (C) of the capacitor is equal to the electric charge (Q) divided by the
voltage (V):
C=Q/V 
C is the capacitance in farad (F)
Q is the electric charge in coulombs (C) that is stored on the capacitor
V is the voltage between the capacitor's plates in volts (V)
 
 Charging
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Principle of charging and discharging of capacitor:

In a simple RC circuit, a resistor and a capacitor are connected in series with a

battery and a switch. See Fig. 1.
*When the switch is in position 1 as shown in Fig. 1(a), charge on the conductors
builds to a maximum value after some time.
*When the switch is thrown to position 2 as in Fig. 1(b), the battery is no longer part
of the circuit and, therefore, the charge on the capacitor cannot be replenished. As
a result the capacitor discharges through the resistor.
 Charging
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andDischarging
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During Charging:Switch is on (1)

 For the circuit shown in Fig. 1(a), Kirchhoff's loop equation can be written as
(1)
The solution of equation (1):
 
(2)
Where,
Qf is the final charge on the capacitor that accumulates after an infinite length of
time
R is the circuit resistance
C is the capacitance of the capacitor.
From this expression you can see that charge builds up exponentially during the
charging process.
 Charging
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During Discharging: Switch K is on (2)

 When the switch is moved to position 2, for the circuit shown in Fig. 1(b),
Kirchhoff's loop equation is now given by:
 
(3)
 
The solution of equation (3):
(4)
Where
Q0 is the initial charge on the capacitor at the beginning of the discharge,
i.e., at t = 0. 
 
You can see from this expression that the charge decays exponentially when
the capacitor discharges, and that it takes an infinite amount of time to fully
discharge. Fig-2
 Charging
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•
•  
•
Time Constant τ
The product RC (having units of time) has a special significance; it is called the time constant
of the circuit. The time constant is the amount of time required for the charge on a charging
capacitor to rise to 63% of its final value. In other words, when t = RC,
•  

•   
• And

•  
• Another way to describe the time constant is to say that it is the number of seconds required
for the charge on a discharging capacitor to fall to 36.8% ( of its initial value.
 Charging
Chargingand
andDischarging
DischargingofofCapacitor
Capacitor

Apparatus:

1. Capacitor
2.Resistor
3.Power Supply
4.Connecting wires
5.Voltmeter
6.Stopwatch
 Charging
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Method:
1.Connect the circuit as shown in fig-1(a),the capacitor starts charging and the
voltage increases
2.Using stopwatch, record the times for each voltage across capacitor
3.Tabulate your results:
V(v)
T(s)

1.Connect the circuit as shown in fig-1(a), the capacitor starts discharging and
the voltage decreases.
2.Using stopwatch, record the times for each voltage across capacitor.
3.Tabulate your results:

V(v)
T(s)
Charging
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4. Plot a graph of charging and discharging curve on the
same graph. Note: Time as x-axis and V as y-axis
5.Draw a tangent to the charging curve at t=0, then draw the
asymptote to the charging curve.
6.Drop a perpendicular from the intersection of the tangent
with the asymptote to the time axis and read off time t.
7.The perpendicular intercepts the time axis at the time
t=τ=RC , the time constant of RC-element.(Graphically)
8.Using equation: τ=RC, we obtain the time constant
theoretically.
9.Compare your results:
 
τ (graphically) ……………………………………. τ (theoretically)
 
 Charging
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.
Charging T Discharging
U(V) T(seconds) U(V) T(s)
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U(V) The variation of voltage as function of
30
time
Graphs 25

20

15
Case of charging
10

5
TIME (msec)
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

U(V) The variation of voltage as function of time

30
Case of discharging
25

20

15

10

5
TIME (msec)
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
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Calculations:

Theoretically:
 We know that c=40*10^-6F
moreover R1 and R2 are connected in parallel
so,
Req=
=50*10^3Ω
τ=RC
=(50*10^3Ω)x(40*10^-6F)= 2 seconds
 Charging
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Experimentally

• We know that τ equals to 63% of charging voltage, and 37% of discharging

voltage.
• Τ=0.63 Umax for charging
• =0.63x27
• =17.01volts equivalent to 1.6 seconds in the table
• Τ=0.37 Umax for discharging
• =0.73x27.1
• =9.99 volts equivalent to 1.7 seconds

τ (graphically) < τ (theoretically)

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