What is the correct voltage current eq. for a variable capacitance capacitor?

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The discussion centers on determining the correct voltage-current relationship for a variable capacitance capacitor, where capacitance C is a function of time due to changing plate distance. The initial equation i(t) = C * dv/dt applies when C is constant, but the user questions its validity when C is variable. The correct relationship is established as I = dQ(t)/dt = V(t) * dC(t)/dt + C(t) * dV(t)/dt, incorporating both the changing capacitance and voltage. This equation is essential for analyzing the circuit's behavior in the user's experiment. Understanding this relationship is crucial for accurate circuit analysis involving variable capacitors.
simplex
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What is the correct voltage - current equation for a variable capacitance capacitor?

If the capacitor has a fix value, C, then the following expression holds:

i(t)=C*dv/dt,

where i is the current that charges the capacitor and v the voltage across it.

If C=C(t) then i(t)=C(t)*dv/dt ?!.
Something tells me that this formula is wrong. I am not sure 100% but it looks wrong.


What I need is the correct relation between i(t) and v(t) when C=C(t).
Can I get some help from you?
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Description of the problem in detail:

I have a capacitor whose capacitance, C is a function of time, t. More precisely, the distance between its plates is varied in time, by a mechanical device, according to a known law d=d(t) where d(t) is a function of t only and does not depend of the voltage, current, etc.

As d=d(t) and C=eps*S/d, also C=C(t). So, I can say that I have a capacitor whose capacitance changes in time according to a known, given function, independent of the voltage, current and other electrical parameters and dependent only of the time, t.

This variable capacitor is part of a circuit and as long as I do not know the current - voltage equation of it, I can not go further to analyze the behavior of the circuit which I need for an experiment.
 
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simplex said:
If the capacitor has a fix value, C, then the following expression holds:

i(t)=C*dv/dt,

where i is the current that charges the capacitor and v the voltage across it.

If C=C(t) then i(t)=C(t)*dv/dt ?!.
Something tells me that this formula is wrong. I am not sure 100% but it looks wrong.


What I need is the correct relation between i(t) and v(t) when C=C(t).

The important equation here is:

Q(t) = C(t)V(t)

So,

I = \frac{dQ(t)}{dt} = V(t)\frac{dC(t)}{dt}+C(t)\frac{dV(t)}{dt}
 

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