Cascading RC circuit w/ DC voltage. How will capacitors charging time vary?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the behavior of capacitors in a cascading RC circuit with DC voltage. Participants explore whether the RC time constant remains consistent across all capacitors when using the equivalent resistance. Observations indicate that the voltage across the first capacitor is consistently higher than that of the tenth capacitor. The conversation shifts to the mathematical modeling of the circuit, suggesting that a set of coupled differential equations may be necessary to accurately describe the charging behavior of the capacitors. Ultimately, it is concluded that the charge rate of each capacitor is influenced by its own charge and the charges of adjacent capacitors.
Agnostic
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In the following schematic, will the RC time constant be the same for all capacitors using the equivalent resistance of all the resistors?

When I plug it into pspice or electronics work bench, it has that the First capacitors voltage as a function of time will always be twice as much as the 10th capacitor stage as a function of time.

I just don't know...

Either way, I am only off by 5% in my theorietical and experimental calculations...just confused...
 

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Agnostic said:
In the following schematic, will the RC time constant be the same for all capacitors using the equivalent resistance of all the resistors?

When I plug it into pspice or electronics work bench, it has that the First capacitors voltage as a function of time will always be twice as much as the 10th capacitor stage as a function of time.

I just don't know...

Either way, I am only off by 5% in my theorietical and experimental calculations...just confused...
Does that symbol to the right mean the stages go on forever?
 
No, its a spark gap.

I figured it out though. A huge linear non homongenous first order differntial equation should take care of it.
 
Agnostic said:
No, its a spark gap.

I figured it out though. A huge linear non homongenous first order differntial equation should take care of it.

The "10" made me wonder. I think you are right about the DE. I started doing it just for 2 capacitors. Have fun :smile:
 
This is going to be a set of coupled differential equations isn't it?
 
Agnostic said:
This is going to be a set of coupled differential equations isn't it?

I should think so. The charge rate of each capacitor depends on its own charge and the charges on the adjacent capcitors. One would think the capacitor closest to the source of emf will charge faster than the next one, etc.
 
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