RC Charging Circuits

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Section 11.13 RC Charging Circuits

Exercises Activities

1.

What is the derivative of the function

f (t) = A e^{- ω t}

with respect to

t ?

The circuit below contains a battery, a bulb, a switch, and a capacitor. The capacitor is initially uncharged and the voltage of the battery is

V .

A circuit diagram with a battery, open switch, light bulb, and capacitor. — 🔗
Figure 11.13.1. A circuit diagram with both a light bulb and a capacitor.

2.

Just after the switch is closed: what is the absolute value of the potential difference across the capacitor? Explain your reasoning.

3.

A long time after the switch is closed: what is the absolute value of the potential difference across the capacitor? Explain your reasoning.

When the capacitor is charging, the current through the resistor as a function of time is given by

I (t) = \frac{V_{b a t}}{R} e^{- t / R C}

4.

Given the result above, sketch a graph of the current through the resistor when the capacitor is charging. Describe how the graph would change if you were to increase the resistance of the circuit. Give a physical explanation for why you observe this change.

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