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Ryo124
Oct11-07, 05:14 PM
A capacitor is charged to 1 coulomb; the capacitance is 9.00×10-5 farads.
Then a switch is closed which puts the capacitor in a closed circuit with a resistor; the resistance is 9.00 ohms.

Calculate the charge on the capacitor after 4.00 milliseconds. (1 ms = 0.001 s).

I know some equations relating capacitance, charge, and voltage, but I don't understand how to approach this problem.

Doc Al
Oct11-07, 05:18 PM
Look up "RC time constant" and the associated equation for a discharging capacitor.

Ryo124
Oct11-07, 06:17 PM
Time Constant is T=RC;

but I don't know how to use this equation to solve my problem.

Doc Al
Oct11-07, 06:25 PM
That's just the definition of the time constant, not the capacitor discharge equation that uses it. Read this: Charging a Capacitor (http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/capchg.html#c1) (Charging and discharging are inverse operations.)

Ryo124
Oct11-07, 07:04 PM
Still not making sense. I don't know the value of Q0 or V. Someone please help.

Doc Al
Oct11-07, 07:17 PM
Q0 is given in your first post; you don't need V. Don't you have a textbook?

Q = Q_0 e^{{-t}/{RC}}