Did I Calculate the Current and Energy in the Capacitor Correctly?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the current and energy stored in a 3mF capacitor subjected to a voltage of 60cos(4πt) V. The current through the capacitor is derived using the formula i = C (dv/dt), resulting in i = -0.72π sin(4πt). The energy stored is calculated using the integral w = C ∫ v dv, yielding a correct energy value of -5.4 J. The user initially miscalculated energy by substituting the current instead of the derivative of voltage, leading to an incorrect result of -0.162 J.

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  • Knowledge of integral calculus, specifically integration techniques involving trigonometric functions
  • Familiarity with energy storage equations in capacitors
  • Ability to manipulate and evaluate definite integrals
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  • Learn advanced integration techniques for trigonometric functions
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Homework Statement



A voltage of 60cos(4 \pi t) V appears across the terminals of a 3mF (milli-farad) capacitor. (which is equal to .003 F [farad]).

Calculate the current through the capacitor and the energy stored in it from t=0 to t=.125 s

Homework Equations



Current through an ideal linear capacitor is given by:

i = C \frac {dv}{dt}

where C is the capacitance in farads and dv/dt is the derivative of the voltage.

Power stored in a capacitor over time is given by:

w = C \int_{- \infty}^{t} v \frac {dv}{dt} dt = C \int_{v(t_{- \infty})}^{V(t)} v dv

The Attempt at a Solution



C= .003 F

v= 60cos(4 \pi t)

\frac {dv}{dt} = -60sin(4 \pi t) (4 \pi) =-240 \pi sin(4 \pi t)

so current is then:

i = C \frac {dv}{dt} = (.003) (-240 \pi sin(4 \pi t) = -.72 \pi sin(4 \pi t)

No questions there, now on to energy. I did this two different but equal ways and got the correct answer one way but not the other. Can someone help me see why? First the method leading to the correct answer:

w = C \int_{0}^{.125} v dv = \frac {C}{2} (v^{2}) = \frac {C}{2} (3600cos^{2} (4 \pi t))

evaluate v^2 at 0 and .125 and you get (note I am aware I could change the limits to V(t) but chose to change back to t):

\frac {C}{2} (0-3600) = \frac {.003*-3600}{2} = -5.4 J

so this is the correct answer, now if I do the same integral but sub in different (but equal!) statements I get the wrong answer:

w = C \int_{0}^{.125} v \frac {dv}{dt} dt = c \int_{0}^{.125} (60cos(4 \pi t))(-.72 \pi sin(4 \pi t)) dt

now all I did was sub in values found before for dv/dt and we were given v. Now if I integrate this with respect to t shouldn't this be the same as before?

Combine all constants and move them out of the integrand:

C \int_{0}^{.125} -43.2 \pi sin(4 \pi t)cos(4 \pi t) dt = -.1296 \pi \int_{0}^{.125} sin(4 \pi t) cos(4 \pi t) dt

note that on the second step here I used the value C=.003 so .003*-43.2=-.1296 and also moved the pi constant out. Now this can be solved with the identity:

\int sin(ax)cos(ax) dx = -\frac {1}{2a} cos^{2} (ax) +C

-.1296 \pi \int_{0}^{.125} sin(4 \pi t) cos(4 \pi t) dt = -.1296 \pi (-\frac {1}{8 \pi} cos^{2}(4 \pi t))

this needs to be evaluated, notice though that we get the cos^2 like before but the coefficient is all out of whack, its not even close to what it should be, evaluating this at 0 and .125 you get:

-.1296 \pi ( 0 + \frac {1}{8 \pi}) = \frac {-.1296 \pi}{8 \pi }= \frac {-.1296}{8} = - \frac {81}{500} = -.162J

whats up with that? Did I do something wrong here?
 
Last edited:
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Nevermind,

I figured it out, I used the value found for i instead of the value for dv/dt. If i use the proper value all is well. Thanks though!
 

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