Circuit Elements: Battery, Resistors & Capacitor Charge 195μs Post Switch Open

In summary, a circuit with three resistors and a capacitor connected to a battery was discussed. The switch in the circuit had been closed for a long time and the question was asked about the charge on the capacitor 195 μs after the switch is opened. The capacitor was found to be fully charged and the relevant equation used was Qmax(1-e^(t/CR)). However, issues arose when trying to find the correct answer, leading to the recommendation of using Thevenin equivalents for V, R1, R2, and R3.
  • #1
deerhunt713
7
0
Three resistors and a capacitor are in a circuit with a battery:
R1 = 23 Ω
R2 = 13 Ω
R3 = 15 Ω
C = 6.2 µF
V = 17 V
The switch has been closed for a long time. What will the charge be on the capacitor 195 μs after the switch is opened?

picture
https://online-s.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?courses/phys212/fall09/homework/06/11_paired/image.gif

 
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  • #2
WHat are your thoughts on the matter? Is this a charging or discharging capacitor 195 μs after the switch is opened? What are the relevant equations to describe this?
 
  • #3
ok well the capacitor is fully charged, so the voltage of the capacitor is the same as the battery, from there i can find the max charge. then i used the equation Qmax(1-e^(t/CR))
where i used 28 for the resistance. but that's not giving me the right answer
 
  • #4
Try again. The voltage across the capacitor is the same as across the series combination R2+R3. That's not the voltage across the battery. What is it?
 
  • #5
kuruman said:
Try again. The voltage across the capacitor is the same as across the series combination R2+R3. That's not the voltage across the battery. What is it?

That's not the only problem. The current through C is not the current through either R1 or R2+R3 so you can't use those in Qmax(1-e^(t/CR) either.

I recommend replacing V, R1, R2 and R3 with their Thevenin equivalent.
 

1. What is the purpose of a battery in a circuit?

A battery is a device that provides a source of electrical energy for a circuit. It converts chemical energy into electrical energy and supplies it to the circuit components, allowing them to function.

2. How do resistors affect a circuit?

Resistors are used to control the flow of current in a circuit. They resist the flow of electricity and can be used to reduce the voltage or limit the amount of current that passes through a circuit. This helps protect the circuit components from damage.

3. What is the role of a capacitor in a circuit?

A capacitor is an electrical component that stores and releases electrical energy. It can be used to smooth out voltage fluctuations in a circuit, filter out unwanted signals, or store energy for later use.

4. What does the number 195μs represent in relation to the capacitor charge?

The number 195μs represents the time it takes for the capacitor to reach 63.2% of its fully charged state after the switch in the circuit is opened. This is known as the time constant and is calculated using the equation RC, where R is the resistance in ohms and C is the capacitance in farads.

5. Why is the switch opened in the circuit after 195μs?

The switch is opened in the circuit after 195μs to demonstrate the time it takes for the capacitor to charge. This allows for the measurement of the time constant, which is an important value in understanding the behavior of capacitors in circuits.

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