To Study The Charging and

Discharging Of capacitor in R-C

Circuits

2024-25
NAME:SHARATHKUMAR P J
CLASS:Xll A
ROLL NO:1105
SUBJECT:PHYSICS
SCHOOL:SAINIK
SCHOOLKODAGU
 ADDRESS:

SAINIK SCHOOL KODAGU

,KUDIGE
KUSHALNAGAR
KODAGU
KARNATAKA-571232
 NAME :SHARATHKUMAR P J DATE:
SCHOOL :SAINIK SCHOOL KODAGU
CLASS :Xll A
ROLL NO:1105
Certified to be bonafied work done by cdt
Add a body text
sharathkumar p j in physics lab during the
year 2024-25 submitted for All India senior
certificate pracicle examination held in
physics lab at SAINIK SCHOOL KODAGU
(signature) (signature)

mr.sanjeev kiran External Examinor

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

At first I Thank Principal Sainik School Kodagu

Col Amarjeet Singh,Vice Principal Sqn Ldr
mohammad shahji for giving opportunity for
me to do this Experiment and Lab assistant
Mr.Shivakumar for helping me to do this
Experiment
 ABSTRACT:

In the RC Circuit Discharging, the time constant

(τ) is still equal to the value of 63%. Thus for the
RC discharging circuit that is initially fully
charged, the voltage across the capacitor after
one time constant, 1T, has dropped by 63% of its
initial value thus is 1 – 0.63 = 0.37 or 37% of the
final value
Introduction to R-C Circuits

In this presentation, we will explore the

dynamics of capacitor charging and
discharging in R-C circuits. Understanding
these processes is crucial for applications
in electronics and electrical engineering.
We will delve into the principles and
mathematical models that govern these
behaviors.
An R-C circuit consists of a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C) connected in series or
parallel. These circuits are fundamental in electronics, serving various functions
such as filtering, timing, and signal processing. Their behavior during charging
and discharging is key to their applications.
 1.SET UP CIRCUIT
COMPOUNDS NEEDED:
CAPACITOR (C)

RESISTOR (R)

D C POWER SUPPLY (V)

SWITCH

MULTIMETER(for measuring voltage and current

connecting wires
OBSERVATION:
When the power supply is connected to
the capacitor, there is an increase in flow
of electric charge called charging. When
the power supply is removed from the
capacitor, the discharging phase begins
and there is a constant reduction in the
voltage between the two plates until it
reaches zero
 WHAT IS AN R CIRCUIT?
When the alternating current goes through a resistance, a
voltage drop is produced that is in-phase with the
current. Resistance is mathematically symbolized by the
letter “R” and is measured in the unit of ohms (Ω)
 CAPACITOR
A capacitor is a two-terminal electrical device that can
store energy in the form of an electric charge. It consists
of two electrical conductors that are separated by a
distance. The space between the conductors may be filled
by vacuum or with an insulating material known as a
dielectric.
 CHARGING
When the key is pressed, the capacitor begins to store charge. If at any time during
charging, I is the current through the circuit and Q is the charge on the capacitor, then
The potential difference across resistor = IR, and The potential difference between the
plates of the capacitor = Q/C Since the sum of both these potentials is equal to ε, RI +
Q/C = ε … (1) As the current stops flowing when the capacitor is fully charged, When Q =
Q0 (the maximum value of the charge on the capacitor), I = 0 From equation. (1), Q0 / C
= ε … (2) From equations (1) and (2), Or Or Since I = dQ/dt, from equation …(3), When t =
0, Q = 0, and when t = t, Q = Q. Integrating both sides within proper limits, we get or or
or or or or or or Where
CHARGING
 DISCHARGING
When the key K is released [Figure], the circuit is broken without introducing any
additional resistance. The battery is now out of the circuit, and the capacitor will
discharge itself through R. If I is the current at any time during discharge, then
putting ε = 0 in RI + Q/C = ε, we get or When t = 0, Q = Q0, and when t = t, Q = Q.
Integrating both sides within proper limits, we get Or Or Or Or where Equation (5)
gives the value of the charge on the capacitor at any time during discharging. If t = CR,
then from equation (5), The time constant of a CR circuit is thus also the time during
which the charge on the capacitor falls from its maximum value to 0.368 (approx…
1/3) of its maximum value. Thus, the charge on the capacitor will become zero only
after infinite time.
 TIME CONSTANT:
The dimensions of CR are those of time. Further, if CR < < 1, Q will attain
its final value rapidly and if CR > > 1, it will do so slowly. Thus, CR
determines the rate at which the capacitor charges (or discharges) itself
through a resistance. It is for this reason that the quantity CR is called
the time constant or, more appropriately, the capacitive time constant of
the circuit. If t = τ, then, from equation (4), or = 63.2% of Q0 The time
constant of a CR circuit is thus the time during which the charge on the
capacitor becomes 0.632 (approx., 2/3) of its maximum value. For the
charge on the capacitor to attain its maximum value (Q0), i.e., for Q = Q0,
Thus, theoretically, the charge on the capacitor will attain its maximum
value only after infinite time.
 VOLTAGE ACROSS
CAPACITOR:
The voltage across the capacitor can be found
through, V = Q/C. The voltages across the other
elements can be found with the help of Kirchoff's
first law
 PROCEDURE
1.Set up the circuit : Use a direct current(DC) voltage source,a
resistor,a capacitor and a two-position switch.
2.Charge the capacitor : Move the position to A to charge the
capacitor.
3.Record the charging : Use a voltmeter to read the voltage every
few seconds until it reachs its maximum value.
 4.Discharge the capacitor : Move the switch to position B to
discharge the capacitor.
5.Record the discharging : Use a voltage sensor to record the
voltage and time data.
6.Analyse the data : Use Excel to plot the data and setermine the
time constant.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
-100μF CAPACITOR

-1MΩ RESISTOR

-BATTERY

-WIRES

-MULTIMETER
Factors affecting the charging and discharging
rate:
The following are the factors that influence the rate at
which a capacitor can be charged or disharged;
1).The capacitor's capacitance.
2).The resistance of the current that is charged of
discharged through.
 CONCLUSION:
Current flows more toward the positive plate (as the positive
charge is transferred to that plate) and far from the negative
plate when a capacitor is charging. When the capacitor
discharges, current flows reversely, away from the positive
plate and towards the negative plate.