Sub: Physics Topic: Electrostatics

Question:
The Electrical Circuit illustrated has the following features:

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Capacitance “C” = 5 x 10-3 Farad.

Resistance “R” = 25 Ω
Excitation 50 volt DC supply. (V)
Initially Q o on the capacitor in VC = 0.25 coulomb at t = 0 when “S” is switched from
mode “a” to node “b” and excitation falls immediately to zero
“a” “S”

“b”

V = 50V C = 5x10-3 F

R = 25 Ω

1) Write the differential equation which involves rate of change of charge on capacitor as a
fraction of time in the range of Q < t

2) Solve the differential equation using Q0 = 0.25 coulomb to determine the constant of
integration.

3) Use your result to show that the charge on the capacitor is reduced to Q 0/2 after
1.3863 x 10-4 S

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Sub: Physics Topic: Electrostatics

Solution:
1. After the switch is shifted from ‘a’ to ‘b’, the circuit will consist of the fully charged
capacitor and resistor. Current will flow in the circuit & there will be voltage drop across
the capacitor due to discharging.

By Kirchoff’s law, the potential equation in the circuit will be:

V +iR =0

Writing in differential form,

V(t)=q(t)/C, i= dq/dt

The differential equation which involved rate of change of charge is:

q(t)/c = -Rdq/dt

 dq/q = -dt/RC (The differential equation)

2. The differential equation on solving ,by integration of both sides, leads to the equation:

-ln(q)= t/RC +K where K is the constant of integration.

Putting in the initial conditions of Q(0)= .25 Coulombs at t=0, we get

K= -ln(.25) = 1.386

3. The charge on the capacitor after t= 1.3863*10^-4 sec is

-ln(q) = (1.3863*10^-4)/(25*5*10^-3) +1.386

= 1.3871

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 Sub: Physics Topic: Electrostatics

Q= e^(-1.3871) = 0.249 coulombs.

It can be clearly seen from the equation that Q doesn’t become Q(0)/2 after
1.3863*10^-4 sec. The data given is wrong

For q= Q(0)/2 time taken will be:

-ln(.125) = t/(125*10^-3) +1.386

=> t= 0.0866 sec. (ans)

** End of the Solution **

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