Time required store half the maximum energy in an inductor

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the time required for an inductor in an RL circuit to store half of its maximum energy. The circuit consists of a 35.0 V battery, a 50 Ω resistor, and a 1.25 mH inductor. The correct formula for current in this context is i(t) = I_0(1 - e^{-tR/L}), leading to the conclusion that the time required is approximately 30.7 µs, as opposed to the initially calculated 8.66 µs using an incorrect formula.

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  • Understanding of RL circuits and their components
  • Familiarity with the equations for current and energy in inductors
  • Knowledge of natural logarithms and their application in physics
  • Basic circuit analysis skills
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  • Study the derivation of the energy stored in an inductor using U = \frac{1}{2}Li^2
  • Learn about the time constant in RL circuits and its implications
  • Explore the differences between the formulas for current in RL circuits
  • Investigate the effects of varying resistance and inductance on energy storage time
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Students studying electrical engineering, physics enthusiasts, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of inductive circuits and energy storage principles.

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Homework Statement


A 35.0 V battery with negligible internal resistance, a 50 Ω resistor and a 1.25 mH inductor forms a RL circuit. How long will it take for the energy stored in the inductor to reach one-half of its maximum value?

Homework Equations


##i(t)=I_0 e^{\frac{-tR}{L}}##
##U(t)=\frac{1}{2}Li(t)^2##

The Attempt at a Solution


##U=\frac{1}{2}Li^2=\frac{1}{2}U_0##
##\frac{1}{2}Li^2=\frac{1}{4}LI_0^2##
##i^2=\frac{1}{2}I_0^2##
##i=I_0 e^{\frac{-tR}{L}}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}I_0##
##\frac{-tR}{L}=\text{ln}(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}})=-\frac{1}{2}\text{ln}(2)##
##t=\frac{L}{2R}\text{ln}(2)##
##t=8.66\text{ µs}##

Textbook has the following answer:
##t=30.7\text{ µs}##

Am I doing something wrong? The same method worked for finding how long it takes for the current to reach half the maximum value ##I_0=\frac{\mathcal{E}}{R}##.
 
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