DISCHARGING OF CAPACITOR

THROUGH RESISTOR
(RC-CIRCUIT)

By: 1.Ng Kah Hou

2.Gerard Ngai Kah Hoe
Teacher Advisor: Miss Ong Peck Ing

OBJECTIVE
1.To study the discharging
process of capacitors through
resistor
2.To determine the time constant
and the capacitance of capacitor.

INTRODUCTION
1.
2.

3.

Acknowledge the value of a RC

circuits time constant.
Knowing the time constant of an RC
circuit can allow it to be used as a
hardware filter.
Exp. Windshield wiper speed
settings in modern cars are
controlled by RC circuits. It allow
lower voltage to reach the
windshield wipers which makes
them move slower.

THEORY

After closing the switch S for a long time

(compared to the circuits time constant),
the capacitor will be fully charged to a
value of Q = C.
As the switch is opened, the power
supply is disconnected from the circuit
and the capacitor starts to discharge
through the resistor.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How is the discharging process of

capacitor through resistor occurs?
What is the time constant, and the
capacitance of the capacitor in an RC
circuit for a recorded time with a
resistance of 120 k?

OBJECTIVE
To study the discharging
process of capacitors through
resistor and to determine the
time constant and the
capacitance of capacitor.

APPARATUS
REQUIRED

120 k resistor
470 F capacitor
Multimeter
Stopwatch
Connecting wires
D.C. power supply
Switch

CIRCUIT OF DISCHARGING
(VC AGAINST T)

120

PHOTO 1 - The Set Up of The

Experiment

METHODOLOGY

The

circuit was connected like Photo 1.

Lead of the capacitor at the arrow head side is connected to the
ground.
The power supply was turned on and the voltage was set to 10 V.
The switch S was closed.
Stopwatch was started and the switch S was opened
simultaneously.
Display of the stopwatch was paused.
Time was recorded as in Table 1 & pause of the stopwatch was
removed.
Stopwatch was reset and the steps above was repeated for time
corresponding to the same values of and recorded as in Table 1.
The average time was calculated and a graph for versus from
which determine was plotted.

Vo=17 V , R=120
k

10

3.29

3.15

3.22

3.70

3.70

3.70

4.14

4.61

4.38

4.80

5.32

5.06

5.79

5.98

5.89

6.53

6.94

6.74

7.53

7.84

7.69

8.77

9.25

9.01

11.09

11.00

11.05

Table 1: Potential difference and time

Graph 1: Graph of against

Vc against t
18
16
14
12
10

6.29

8
6
4
2
0
0

5.65 6

is the time taken for potential difference to

decrease to of the initial value.
From Graph 1, when the value of potential
difference drop to ,
= 6.29
the time constant is

10

12

CALCULATION
Time constant found using :

=
Capacitance can be found using

=F
The capacitance of the capacitance is F.

Problems
Connecting wires are too long and old.
*Resistance in circuit has been increased.
*Electricity flow incompletely in circuit.
2. High temperature of the surrounding and the
apparatus such as connecting wires.
1.

SOLVEMENT
1.
2.

New and shorter connecting wires is

used.
The experiment is carried out in a
cooler surrounding and also avoid from
switch on the power supply for a long
time.

PRECAUTIONS
1.

2.

3.
4.

Avoid any random error and repeat the

experiment for more than one time to get
the average readings as the result.
Capacitor must had fully charged before
started to discharge and recording the time
taken.
The polarities of all equipment used is
noticed while connecting the circuit.
All connections was ensured to be tight so
the circuit is complete for electricity to flow.

CONCLUSION
When the capacitor is discharged

through a resistor, the potential

difference across the capacitor
decreases exponentially.
Time constant, of the RC circuit for a
recorded time with a resistance of 120
k is about and the capacitance of the
capacitance is F.

THE END
THANK YOU