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CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this “Physics Investigatory

Project” on the topic “CHARGING & DISCHARGING
OF CAPACITOR IN R-C CIRCUIT” has been
successfully completed by R.HEMANTH KUMAR of
class XII-CLEVER under the guidance of MRS.
SWEDHA.R in particular fulfilment of the curriculum
of Central Board of Secondary Education [CBSE]
leading award of annual examination of the year
2024-25.

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 INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL
EXAMINER

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have

been possible without the kind support and help many individuals.

I would like to thank my principal Mrs. ISHWARIYA.M and

school for providing me with facilities required to do my project.

I am highly indebted to my Physics teacher Mrs. SWEDHA.R, for

her invaluable guidance which has sustained my efforts in all the
stages of this project work.

I would also thank my parents for their continuous support and

encouragement.

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My thanks and appreciation also go to my fellow classmates and
the laboratory assistant in developing the project and to the people

who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

TOPIC

CHARGING & DISCHARGING OF

CAPACITOR IN R-C CIRCUIT

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AIM:
To verify that 63% charge is stored in a capacitor in R-C circuit at
its time constant and 63% charge remains when capacitor is
discharged and hence plot a graph between voltage and time.

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INTRODUCTION:
An R-C circuit is a circuit containing a resistor and capacitors in
series to a power source. Such circuits find very important
applications in various areas of science and in basic circuits which
act as building blocks of modern technological devices.
It should be really helpful if we get comfortable with the
terminologies charging and discharging of capacitors.

1.Charging of capacitor :
A capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to
store energy in an electric field. In the hydraulic analogy, charge
carriers lowing through a wire are analogous to water flowing
through a pipe. A capacitor is like a rubber membrane sealed inside
a pipe. Water molecules cannot pass through the membrane, but
some water can move by stretching the membrane. The analogy
clarifies a few aspects of capacitors

2. Discharging of capacitor :

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Using hydraulic analogy only we can understand that when the
capacitor is charged the membrane is stretched, but now if you
allow the water to come out slowly and let the membrane relax,
then it is called discharging of capacitor. In other words, when the
charge on each of the plates becomes zero and the potential
difference across its terminals drops to zero. Below is a graphical
description of capacitor as a pipe with a membrane: -

1. Relaxed membrane (uncharged)

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

1. Breadboard.

2. 100µF capacitor.

3. 1 ΜΩ resistor.

4. Multi-meter.

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5. 9V battery.

6. Wire stripper, connecting wires, battery connector.

7. Stopwatch.

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THEORY:

When a capacitor of capacitance C is connected in series with a

resistor of resistance R and then connected to a battery of EMF E it
gets charged but since some resistance has been introduced, this
charging process takes some time and hence the potential
difference between the plates of the capacitor varies as an
exponential function of time.

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The circuit diagram for this experiment is given below: -

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Applying KIRCHHOFF’S LAW in the above circuit during
charging i.e. Capacitor is connected to battery.
E – V_{C} – IR = 0
V c = Q/C
E – Q/C – IR = 0

Since,
I = dQ/dt
Therefore,
E- Q/C – (dQ)/(dt) * R = 0
E – Q/C = dQ/dt * R
EC – Q = dQ/dt * RC
Integrating both sides,
Intergate from t to o 1/RC*dt=Intergate from Q to 0 1/EC – Q* da

-lnEC-Q/EC=t/RC
1-Q/EC=e*-t/RC

Q=EC(1-e*-t/RC)
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Since, EC = Qo

Therefore,
Q=Qo(1-e*-1/RC)

Where,
Q = charge at time T
Qo = Maximum charge

Also,

Q=CV and Qo = CVo

Where,
V=Voltage at time T

Vo= Maximum voltage Therefore

CV = CVo (1-e*-1/Rc)

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V = Vo (1-e*-1/RC)

[Note: This is the charging equation only, for discharging equation

proceed the same way but only remove E from Kirchhoff law
equation]

Thus, equation for discharging

V = Vo (e*-1/RC)

When RC= t, then equation becomes

V = Vo (e^-1), Which on solving gives

V = 0.63V0
i.e. the voltage on capacitor at time ‘T = RC’ becomes 63% of the
max voltage, which means 63% of total charge has been stored in
the capacitor. CYCLE
This product of R and C has been given a new name, i.e. time
constant and is denoted by t, which mean for any capacitor in RC
circuit 63% of total charge is at time constant.
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In my experiment I have used a 100µF capacitor and 1 ΜΩ resistor
thus, Time constant = 100×10-6 x 106 = 100 sec.

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PROCEDURE:
 Connect all the components in breadboard

 Now take multimeter leads and place them in the two

terminals.

 Now take the Battery and its terminal across the terminal of
the capacitor and start the stopwatch. Note the readings at
20sec intervals and write them down. [NOTE: - Reading the
previous statement could be astonishing as it says that measure
voltage at 20sec interval but one could question that current
move at very high speed so how could one measure the
changing readings! But believe me it wasn’t an easy task but
since the voltage depends on reciprocal of exponential
function and as time passes by the changing readings will get
slowed down and even after infinite time the capacitor could
not be charged up to max voltage. Also, since its time constant
is 100sec which is quite practical to measure at and hence this
experiment is very much justified.]. Take 10 readings and if
required the 20sec gap could be increased because as the time
passes by the change in voltage becomes smaller and smaller.

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 Now let the capacitor it can be charged up to 460 secs because
then it will become 99.99% charged [since we have a limited
time and we can’t wait for infinite time for it to charge
completely!]. Now remove the battery and now attach a wire
in place of the battery terminals and again note the multimeter
readings changing and record them.

 Plot a graph between voltage and time for charging as well as

discharging.

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GRAPH:
Plot of voltage vs time
Time on X axis and Voltage on Y axis

For Charging

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For Discharging

CALCULATION:
Now since the Graph are very much similar to the graph of
charging and discharging of capacitor.

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At r = 100s during charging of capacitor the voltage on capacitor is
5.69 volt as it is observed in the experiment. Now using the
charging formula:

V = 9(1 - e ^ ((- t)/t))

V = 9(1 – 1/e) V5.67 5.69

Which is achieved experimentally as well.

Similarly, during discharging,

V = 9e ^ - 1
V= 3.22
Which is achieved experimentally as well.

CONCLUSION:

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Hence it is verified experimentally that 63% charge is there on
capacitor after time constant during charging and 63% charge is
lost at time constant during discharging.

PRECAUTIONS:

 Do all the connection neat and tight.

 Do not connect Led without resistance.

 Keep yourself safe from high voltage.

 Before doing any experiment please consult to your subject

teacher or lab assistance.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
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 www.scribd.com
 https://byjus.com
 https://en.m.wikipedia.org
 https://egyankosh.ac.in
 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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