How long does it take a Capacitor to charge to 80% of its final value?

[MarkH748]

Homework Statement

I have a a circuit with an inductor, a resistor and a capacitor in series. I have analyzed the circuit and gotten an equation for the voltage across the capacitor to be.

Homework Equations

Vc(t) = 10 + (20/3)e^-5t - (50/3)e^-2t

The Attempt at a Solution

I assume its something to do with time constants but there isn't any that give me 80% is there? Also my electronics isn't that great so I don't know how to deal with the inductor.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mark.

 

[ehild]

What is the limit of Vc when tends to infinity? You need to determine the time t when Vc is 80 percent of this value. You can solve the equation only numerically, but the result will be close to 0.95 s.

ehild

 

[MarkH748]

I'm still unsure. Do I say @ t = infinity, Vc = 10 - 700I ? I don't have a vlue for I though. Do I need one? I'd also be interested to know how you estimated 0.95s. Could I write in an exam, "By observation, t = 0.95s" ? or would that be meaningless?

 

[ehild]

Vc(t) = 10 + (20/3)e^-5t - (50/3)e^-2t

This is the equation which gives the voltage of the capacitor as function of time. I do not know if you have learned about differential equations or not, but it is the solution of the circuit equation - a second order differential equation for the charge on the capacitor.

Now you have no other task, find the limit of the Vc(t) function when the time goes to infinity. What happens then with the exponential functions?

You can solve an equation numerically by trying different values, or with some kind of iteration. You can also solve it graphically: Plot it out.

ehild

 

[MarkH748]

I think I understand now. When t -> infinity, Vc = 10 V (this is correct?). So I need to find a value for t for when Vc is 8 volts using one of the methods you mentioned?

edit: this gives me t = 3.6188.

 

[ehild]

Yes, you can find t when Vc is 8 V. But your t is too big. Try to plug in. How did you get it?

ehild

 

[MarkH748]

Ah, I put V equal to 2 volts by accident. Putting it equal to 8 gives me t = 0.9047 s. Thanks for your help.

 

[ehild]

You are welcome.

ehild