Finding the Charge and Time in an L-R-C Circuit

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the charge on a capacitor in an L-R-C circuit at a specific time, given the inductance, resistance, and capacitance values. The original poster presents their calculations and compares their result with a textbook answer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the charge function using differential equations related to the L-R-C circuit. They express concern over a discrepancy between their calculated charge and the textbook value. Some participants question the correctness of constants used in the equations, particularly the value of c1.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's calculations. There is acknowledgment of a potential error in calculator settings affecting trigonometric calculations. The original poster also introduces a second part of the problem regarding the time when the charge equals zero, leading to further exploration of the equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of calculator settings (degrees vs. radians) in solving trigonometric equations. The original poster is also working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can provide or assumptions they can make.

Sparky_
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Homework Statement


Find the charge on the capacitor in an L-R-C circuit at time t = 0.001

L = 0.05H, R = 2 ohms, C = 0.01F

q(0) = 5
i(0) = 0
E(t) = 0


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



[tex]L \frac {di(t)}{dt} + R \frac {dq(t)}{dt} + \frac {q}{C} = 0[/tex]

[tex]\frac {dq^2(t)}{dt^2} + \frac {R} {L} \frac {dq(t)}{dt} + \frac {q}{LC} = 0[/tex]


[tex]\frac {dq^2(t)}{dt^2} + 40 \frac {dq(t)}{dt} + 2000q = 0[/tex]

[tex]m^2 = 40m + 2000 = 0[/tex]

[tex]q(t) = e^{-20t} (c1 * cos(40t) + c2 * sin(40t))[/tex]

q(0) = 0 yields c1 = 5

[tex]q'(t) = i(t) = -20e^{-20t} (c1 * cos(40t) + c2 * sin(40t) ) + e^{-20t}(-200 sin (40t) + 40*c2*cos(40t))[/tex]


c1 = 5
c2 = 5/2

I get q(0.01) = 4.11 coulombs

The book has q(0.01) = 4.568 coulombs

Can you help resolve my error?

Thanks
-Sparky_
 
Last edited:
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Sparky_ said:
[tex]q(t) = e^{-20t} (c1 * cos(40t) + c2 * sin(40t))[/tex]

q(0) = 0 yields c1 = 5

Hi Sparky! :smile:

Isn't c1 = 0? :confused:
 
sorry,

my mistake
q(0) = 5

c1 = 5

-Sparky
 
Sparky:

You got the wrong answer because your calculator was in degree mode. Put it in radian mode (like it should be), and you get the book's answer.
 
Ahh!

I was using a calculator I wasn't familar with and didn't check the trig settings.

Thanks so much!
 
Do you agree with my q(t) =

[tex]q(t) = e^{-20t} (5 cos(40t) + \frac{5} {2} sin(40t))[/tex]

??


There is a second part to this problem -

Find the first time q is equal to 0.

Thanks to Kreizhn I have

[tex]0 = e^{-20t} (5cos(40t) + \frac{5} {2}sin(40t))[/tex]

[tex]0 = (5cos(40t) + \frac{5} {2}sin(40t))[/tex]

[tex]cos(40t) = -\frac{1} {2}sin(40t))[/tex]

[tex]40t = -1.1.07[/tex]

[tex]t = -0.0276[/tex]

[tex]40t = -1.1.07 + pi[/tex]

[tex]40t = 2.0345[/tex]

[tex]t = 0.0508[/tex]

The book gets t = 0.0669.

Suggestions?

Thanks
-Sparky_
 

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