An RL circuit is a type of electrical circuit that consists of a resistor (R) and an inductor (L) connected in series. The resistor and inductor interact with each other to produce a time-varying current.
During discharge, the inductor in an RL circuit generates a back electromotive force (EMF) that opposes the flow of current. This causes the current to decrease over time as the energy stored in the inductor is dissipated.
The time constant (τ) of an RL circuit is a measure of how quickly the current changes in the circuit during discharge. It is calculated by dividing the inductance (L) by the resistance (R), or τ = L/R.
The discharge rate of an RL circuit is directly proportional to the resistance (R) and inversely proportional to the inductance (L). This means that a higher resistance or lower inductance will result in a faster discharge rate, and vice versa.
The discharge rate of an RL circuit can be calculated using the equation I(t) = I₀e^(-t/τ), where I(t) is the current at time t, I₀ is the initial current, and τ is the time constant of the circuit. This equation can be derived from the differential equation for an RL circuit, dI/dt + (R/L)I = 0.