UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

PHYS 106: Practical Physics II

Second Semester, 2017/2018
Experiment E6: Charging and discharging a capacitor

1. Pre-labs

a) Introduction
Capacitors are structures for storing energy that find uses in many ways in electronics. They
store energy for mobile usage such as in watches, phones and in laptops . They are also devices
that are suitable for supplying energy in bursts such as for flashing in cameras, for defibrillators
in life support systems, and for steadying voltage in DC rectification. The experiment will
involve measurement of the change in the potential difference (voltage) across a capacitor during
charging and discharging processes. Data from the measurements will be used to verify the
functional form of the voltage –time dependence, V(t), as given by theory. The time constant
τ =RC (where R is the effective resistance and C is the capacitance) will also measured.
b) Theory
1. Charging a capacitor
The capacitor C in Figure 1 is initially uncharged. By closing the key, a current i is set up in the
loop and the capacitor begins to charge.

Fig 1.
Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule leads to
Q
V ˳−iR− =0 ( 1 )
C
Where Vo is the electromotive force or the voltage supplied, R the resistance, Q the charge of the
dQ
capacitor and C is the capacitance. Substituting for the current i, equation (1) becomes
dt

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 dQ Q
V ˳− R− =0 ( 2 )
dt C
Rearranging the terms, equation (2) becomes
dQ V ˳ Q
= − (3)
dt R RC
The solution to equation (3) is given by
−t
Q=CV ˳ (1−e ) ( 4 )RC

Which determines the charge on the capacitor as a function of time t. The voltage across the
capacitor Vc is given by
Q
V c= ( 5 )
C
Dividing equation (4) by C yields
−t
V =V ˳ (1−e )=V ˳ ( 1−e
c
RC −t / τ
) ( 6)
where τ =RC is the time constant. Therefore, by plotting Vc versus t, the time constant may
be determined and hence, the value of C can be calculated if R is known.

2. Discharging a capacitor
The process of discharging the capacitor does not involve any emf or voltage supply in the
circuit. Therefore, the differential equation that characterizes the discharging process is given by
−dQ Q
R− =0 ( 7 )
dt C
The solution to equation (7) is given by
−t −t
RC τ
Q=Q o e =C V o e ( 8 )
Where C is the capacitance and Vo the maximum voltage. Hence, dividing both sides by C, it can
be established that
−t
τ
V c =V o e ( 9 )
Vo
When τ =RC then V c = . Hence, equations (8) and (9) determine the charge and voltage
e
across the capacitor.
c) Questions and reading
d) Read chapter 26 of the course book and related material and then answer the following.
Your solutions must be submitted at the entrance to the lab.
1. A 4.60-pF capacitor that is initially uncharged is connected in series with a 7.50-kΩ resistor
and an emf source with E = 125 V and negligible internal resistance. Just after the circuit is
completed, what are:
(a) the voltage drop across the capacitor;
(b) the voltage drop across the resistor;
(c) the charge on the capacitor;
(d) the current through the resistor?
(e) A long time after the circuit is completed (after many time constants) what are the
values of the quantities in parts (a)-( d)?

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2. A capacitor is charged to a potential of 12.00 V and is then connected to a voltmeter having an
internal resistance of 3.40 MΩ. After a time of 4.00 s the voltmeter reads 3.00 V.
What are
(a) the capacitance and
(b) the time constant of the circuit?

2 In-Labs

2.1 Experimental Set-up

Apparatus
 1 breadboard
 2 resistors(1MΩ and 2MΩ)
 Capacitors of known values (please measure or ask)
 I digital multimeter (DMM),
 I plug key,
 a 9V battery
 a stop watch.

2.2 Objective
 To study the charging and discharging processes through the capacitor.
 To determine the time constant of an RC circuit

2.3 Procedure
Charging the capacitor
1. Connect the 1MΩ resistor, the capacitor, the battery and the plug key in a series circuit
(Figure 1), with a voltmeter across the capacitor. (If there are two or more capacitors on
your table you need to connect them in series in the circuit)
2. With the plug key open, reset the stopwatch.
3. Start the timer as you close the key.
4. Using a suitable table, record the voltage across the capacitor at 10 s intervals for 300 s.
5. Continue as in 4 for a further 5 minutes at 40 s intervals.
The capacitor is now charged.

Discharging the capacitor

6. Remove the battery and close the circuit.
7. Repeat step 3 -5.

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 The charging and discharging processes are done.
There should be two tables of data in all (i.e. one each for charging and discharging).
Proceed to use the data to prepare your report in the next section.

2.4 Write-up
Your report should take the following format:

A. TITLE OF EXPERIMENT AND DATE

– Tabulate your results in four different appropriate tables.
– Plot graphs of V –t for charging processes only.
- Plot graphs of ln (V) the discharging processes only on appropriate scales, showing
clearly the title, your index number, the date, labeled axis on each graph.

B. ANALYSIS
1. From the plots V- t determin, Vm, the maximum charge on the capacitor.
2. From the charging graph, find the time at which V =0.63 V m
3. From the plot of ln V – t (i.e. natural log of voltage against time), deduce Vo and
the time constant. (Your knowledge of linearization from the exercises in Phys 105 will be
needed!)
4. From the graph for the discharging process, determine the value of V when time
is equal to the time constant.
5. What fraction of Vo is the value of V in Qu. 4 ? (i.e calculate V/Vo)

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