How to find capacitance in a circuit with a resistor and a charging capacitor?

  • Thread starter Thread starter nautica
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Capacitance
AI Thread Summary
To find the capacitance of a charging capacitor in series with a 720-ohm resistor, the charge at 10 ms is half the final value. The formula q(t) = Qmax(1-e^(-t/RC)) is used, where the ratio of charge can help solve for capacitance. By applying Ohm's Law and substituting current and voltage relationships, the capacitance can be expressed as C = 720Qt/I. Assuming a voltage of 1V for simplicity, calculations yield a capacitance of approximately 5.184 uF, leading to the conclusion that the closest answer is 9.6 uF. Understanding the relationship between charge, voltage, and resistance is crucial for solving capacitance in this context.
nautica
A capacitor, in a series with a 720 ohm resistor, is being charged. At the end of 10 ms its charge is half the final value. The capacitance is about:

a)9.6 uF
b)14 uF
c)20 uF
d)7.2 uF
e)10F

Now how in the heck and I suppose to know this one. I know ohms law and I know how to find capacitance. But what does either of these has to do with time?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The rate at which a capacitor is charged in an RC circuit is:

q(t) = Q_{max}(1-e^\frac{-t}{RC})

You know t and R.
You don't know q(t) or Qmax but you do know the ratio of each to the other, and that's all you need to solve for C.
 


To find the capacitance in this scenario, we can use the formula Q = CV, where Q is the charge on the capacitor, C is the capacitance, and V is the voltage across the capacitor. In this case, we know that the charge on the capacitor at the end of 10 ms is half of the final value, so we can write the equation as 0.5Q = CV. We also know that the resistor in series with the capacitor has a resistance of 720 ohms, so we can use Ohm's Law to find the voltage across the capacitor. The voltage can be calculated as V = IR, where I is the current flowing through the circuit. Since the capacitor is being charged, the current gradually decreases to zero, and we can assume that the current at the end of 10 ms is half of the initial current. Therefore, we can write the equation as I/2 = V/720. Now we can substitute this into our previous equation to get 0.5Q = C(I/2)(720). Simplifying, we get C = 720Q/I. We can also express the current in terms of time as I = Q/t. Substituting this into our equation, we get C = 720Qt/I. Finally, we know that the charge on the capacitor is proportional to the capacitance and the voltage, so we can write Q = CV. Substituting this into our equation, we get C = (720Vt)/(V/720). Simplifying, we get C = (720Vt)/(1/720), which simplifies to C = 720^2t. Now we can plug in the values given in the problem to find the capacitance. Since the voltage across the capacitor is not given, we can assume it to be 1V for simplicity. Plugging in the values, we get C = (720^2)(10 ms) = 5.184 uF. Therefore, the closest option would be a) 9.6 uF.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top