Physics Lab Observation Sheet CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF A CAPACITOR 2009-2010

PREPARED BY:

Mr. CHARIS ISRAEL ANCHA M.Sc., (Ph.D.)

Asst. Prof. of PHYSICS
Mob. No: +91-9866934653

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Physics Lab Observation Sheet CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF A CAPACITOR 2009-2010

Exp. No: CHARGING AND DICHARGING OF A CAPACITOR

Date:

Aim: To study the Charge & Discharge of a condenser and hence determine time constant (both
voltage and current graphs are to be plotted).
Apparatus: DC power supply, circuit board, 3 sets of resistances, 3 sets of capacitors, digital
voltmeter, milliammeter, connecting wires and stop watch.
Circuit: K ch arg ing mA R

B K disch arg ing C V

Formulae:
1) During charging, the charge, voltage and current across the capacitor increases according
to the relations
q = qo (1 − e − t / RC )
V = Vo (1 − e −t / RC ) and
I = I o e −t / RC
where qo, Vo and Io are the maximum values of charge, voltage and current across
the capacitor after charging.
2) During discharging, the charge, voltage and current across the capacitor decreases
according to the relations
q = qo e − t / RC
V = Vo e −t / RC and
I = − I o e − t / RC
3) Theoretical Time Constant, t = RC sec
where R is the Resistance and C is the Capacitance used in the circuit.
4) Experimental Time Constant ‘t’ is the time for which the voltage ‘V’ rises to 0.63Vo
during charging and decreases to 0.39Vo during discharging (where ‘Vo’ is the maximum
voltage across the capacitor after charging), it is measured from the graph drawn by
taking time ‘t’ on X-axis and Voltage ‘V’ on Y-axis.

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Physics Lab Observation Sheet CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF A CAPACITOR 2009-2010
Graphs:
V V
1) V-t graph: Two separate
graphs are plotted with time Vo Vo
‘t’ on X-axis and Voltage ‘V’ 0.632 V o
on Y-axis one for Charging of
the Capacitor and the other for 0.37Vo
the Discharging. The graphs
are as shown in the adjacent 0 t t 0 t t
figures from which the time during Ch arg ing during Disch arg ing
constants corresponding to the
0.63Vo and 0.37Vo for charging and discharging are to be identified.
2) I-t graph: Two separate graphs are plotted with time ‘t’ on X-axis and Current ‘I’ on
Y-axis, one for Charging of
the Capacitor and the other
I
for the Discharging. The
0 t t
graphs are as shown in the Io
adjacent figures from which 0.632 I o
the time constants
corresponding to the 0.63Io 0.37 I o I
and 0.37Io for charging and Io
discharging are to be 0 t t
identified. during disch arg ing
during Ch arg ing
Procedure:
1) Make the connections with power supply OFF as shown in the figure.
2) Choose the R and C values such that the time constant RC is large (approximately
100sec).
3) Select the applied voltage ‘B’ and the key Kcharging is closed with the key Kdischarging open.
4) Put ON the power supply and the stop watch simultaneously, now the capacitor starts
charging slowly.
5) Note the Voltmeter and Ammeter readings for every 20 sec till the Voltage in the
voltmeter reads a constant value for at least 5 consequent readings.
6) For the same applied voltage ‘B’, close the key Kdischarging and open the key Kcharging with
simultaneously resetting the stop watch to Zero, now the capacitor starts discharging
slowly.
7) Note the Voltmeter and Ammeter readings for every 20 sec till the Voltage in the
voltmeter reads a constant value for at least 5 consequent readings.
8) Plot the V-t and I-t graphs separately for charging & discharging and calculate the time
constant values.
Observations:
Resistance, R = ___________ KΩ.
Capacitance, C = ____________ µF.
Theoretical Time Constant, t = RC = __________ sec.

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Physics Lab Observation Sheet CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF A CAPACITOR 2009-2010
Tabular:

Trail. Time ‘t’ Voltmeter Readings ‘V’ in Volt Ammeter Readings in ‘I’ mA
No. in sec Charging Discharging Charging Discharging
1.
2.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Calculations:
From V-t graph:
i. Maximum Voltage across the capacitor, Vo = __________ V.

ii. Time Constant during Charging, t = ________ sec.

iii. Time Constant during discharging, t = ________ sec.

From I-t graph:
i. Maximum Current through the capacitor, Io = __________ mA.

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Physics Lab Observation Sheet CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF A CAPACITOR 2009-2010

ii. Time Constant during Charging, t = ________ sec.

iii. Time Constant during discharging, t = ________ sec.

Precautions:
1) Choose R and C values such that the time constant is large.
2) Reading on stop watch should be taken simultaneously.
3) Voltmeter and ammeter of suitable range must be chosen.
4) Voltmeter of high resistance must be used to avoid leakage of charge through it.

Result:

1) The variation of Voltage, Current and Charge with time are exponential in nature.
2) Theoretical Time Constant, t = ________ sec.
3) From V-t graph:
i) Time Constant during Charging, t = ________ sec.

ii) Time Constant during discharging, t = ________ sec.

4) From I-t graph:
i) Time Constant during Charging, t = ________ sec.

ii) Time Constant during discharging, t = ________ sec.

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