RRC Circuit - Capacitor Charge?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the charge on a capacitor in an RRC circuit with two batteries and resistors. The initial attempt to use the formula Q = C*(V1 + V2) was incorrect due to the unequal battery voltages. It is emphasized that after closing the switch for a long time, the circuit reaches a steady state where the capacitor will have a constant voltage and no current flows through it. To find the voltage across the capacitor, applying Kirchhoff's voltage laws to the circuit loop is recommended. This approach leads to the correct calculation of the capacitor's charge.
bchubz
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


http://www.webassign.net/hrw/hrw7_27-76.gif
The circuit in the figure shows a capacitor, two ideal batteries, two resistors, and a switch S. Initially S has been open for a long time. If it is then closed for a long time, what is the charge (in Coulombs) on the capacitor? Assume that the batteries have emfs of ε1 = 1.50 V and ε2 = 8.10 V and that C = 7.00 μF, R1 = 0.18 Ω, R2 = 0.44 Ω.

Homework Equations


Kirchoff's voltage laws


The Attempt at a Solution


I tried C*(V1+V2) = Q. This isn't correct, and not exactly sure where to go next.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
bchubz said:

Homework Statement


http://www.webassign.net/hrw/hrw7_27-76.gif
The circuit in the figure shows a capacitor, two ideal batteries, two resistors, and a switch S. Initially S has been open for a long time. If it is then closed for a long time, what is the charge (in Coulombs) on the capacitor? Assume that the batteries have emfs of ε1 = 1.50 V and ε2 = 8.10 V and that C = 7.00 μF, R1 = 0.18 Ω, R2 = 0.44 Ω.

Homework Equations


Kirchoff's voltage laws


The Attempt at a Solution


I tried C*(V1+V2) = Q. This isn't correct, and not exactly sure where to go next.

Because the two battery voltages are unequal, there will be a steady-state current in the long term. After stabilization, there will be no current through the cap, and a constant voltage across the cap. You can find that voltage by writing a loop equation around the outer loop to find the loop current, and then calculate what the voltages are at points going around the loop.
 
Great thanks! I just needed a little nudge.
 
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 '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...

Similar threads

Back
Top