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In an \(R C\) series circuit, emf \(\&=12.0 \mathrm{~V}\), resistance \(R=\) \(1.40 \mathrm{M} \Omega\), and capacitance \(C=1.80 \mu \mathrm{F}\). (a) Calculate the time constant. (b) Find the maximum charge that will appear on the capacitor during charging. (c) How long does it take for the charge to build up to \(16.0 \mu \mathrm{C}\) ?

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) 2.52 s, (b) 21.6 μC, (c) 3.40 s.

Step by step solution

01

Calculating the Time Constant

The time constant \( \tau \) of an \( R C \) circuit is given by \( \tau = R \cdot C \). Substitute the given values: \( R = 1.40 \times 10^6 \) ohms and \( C = 1.80 \times 10^{-6} \) farads. Therefore, \( \tau = 1.40 \times 10^6 \times 1.80 \times 10^{-6} = 2.52 \) seconds.
02

Finding the Maximum Charge on the Capacitor

The maximum charge \( Q_{max} \) on a capacitor is given by \( Q_{max} = C \cdot \text{emf} \). Substituting \( C = 1.80 \times 10^{-6} \) farads and \( \text{emf} = 12.0 \) volts, we find \( Q_{max} = 1.80 \times 10^{-6} \times 12.0 = 21.6 \mu \text{C} \).
03

Calculating the Time to Reach a Specific Charge

The charge \( Q \) on a capacitor as it charges over time \( t \) is given by the equation \( Q = Q_{max}(1 - e^{-t/\tau}) \). We need to find the time \( t \) when \( Q = 16.0 \mu \text{C} \). Use the equation: \[ 16.0 \mu \text{C} = 21.6 \mu \text{C} (1 - e^{-t/2.52}) \]Rearrange to solve for \( t \): \[ 1 - \frac{16.0}{21.6} = e^{-t/2.52} \] \[ e^{-t/2.52} = 0.259 \]Taking the natural logarithm on both sides: \[ -t/2.52 = \ln(0.259) \approx -1.35 \] Thus, \[ t = 2.52 \times 1.35 = 3.40 \text{ seconds} \].

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Time Constant
In an RC circuit, the time constant, denoted by \( \tau \), is a measure of time it takes for a capacitor to charge up to about 63% of its full capacity or discharge to about 37% of its full charge. It is a crucial parameter because it dictates how quickly or slowly the capacitor responds to the electric current.
For an RC circuit, the time constant is calculated using the formula \( \tau = R \cdot C \), where \( R \) is resistance in ohms and \( C \) is capacitance in farads.
From the problem, with a resistance of \( 1.40 \times 10^6 \) ohms and a capacitance of \( 1.80 \times 10^{-6} \) farads, we find that \( \tau = 2.52 \) seconds.
  • This means it takes about 2.52 seconds for the capacitor to reach 63% of its maximum charge.
  • The time constant helps us predict the behavior of the charging and discharging process of capacitors.
Maximum Charge
The maximum charge that a capacitor can hold when fully charged, referred to as \( Q_{max} \), occurs when the capacitor voltage equals the voltage of the source.
It is calculated by the formula \( Q_{max} = C \cdot \text{emf} \), where \( C \) is the capacitance and \( \text{emf} \) is the electromotive force in volts.
  • In this problem, with \( C = 1.80 \times 10^{-6} \) farads and \( \text{emf} = 12.0 \) volts, the maximum charge \( Q_{max} \) is found to be \( 21.6 \mu \text{C} \).
Understanding \( Q_{max} \) is essential as it tells us the full capacity of the capacitor, which is crucial for applications where specific charge levels must not be exceeded or need to be reliably achieved.
Capacitor Charging Time
Understanding the time taken to charge a capacitor to a specific charge level involves the relationship with the time constant.
The charge \( Q \) on a capacitor at any time \( t \) can be calculated with the formula: \[ Q = Q_{max}(1 - e^{-t/\tau}) \]
  • Here, \( Q_{max} \) is the maximum charge the capacitor can hold, and \( \tau \) is the time constant.
  • In this scenario, to determine the time needed for the capacitor to reach \( 16.0 \mu \text{C} \), we rearrange the formula and solve: \[ t = \tau \cdot \ln \left(\frac{Q_{max}}{Q_{max} - Q}\right) \]
By substituting values, we find \( t \approx 3.40 \text{ seconds} \).
Understanding this can help in designing circuits where precise timing to charge a capacitor is necessary, like in timing circuits or signal processing.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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