Charging
and
Discharging
of Capacitor
PRESENTED BY GROUP A1
Introduction
UNDERSTANDING ELECTRIC CHARGE AND VOLTAGE
• An RC circuit consists of a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C) connected to a DC power
source.
• RC circuits are widely used in electronic devices such as timers, filters, and power
supplies.
• The study of charging and discharging helps us understand how energy is stored and
released.
• These concepts form the foundation of modern electronics and electrical engineering.
Definition of a Capacitor
UNDERSTANDING ELECTRIC CHARGE AND VOLTAGE
• A capacitor is a passive electronic component used to store electrical energy.
• It consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulating material called dielectric.
• When connected to a battery, equal and opposite charges accumulate on the plates.
• Energy is stored in the electric field developed between the plates.
Charging of
Capacitor
• When a capacitor is connected to a DC source
through a resistor, charging begins.
Initially, current is maximum because the capacitor
is uncharged.
As charge accumulates, voltage across the
capacitor increases.
The charging current decreases gradually and
becomes zero at full charge.
Charging is not instantaneous; it follows an
exponential behavior.
Discharging of Capacitor
• Discharging occurs when the battery is removed from the circuit.
• The capacitor releases its stored energy through the resistor.
• Current flows in the opposite direction compared to charging.
• Voltage and charge decrease exponentially with time.
• Finally, both current and voltage become zero.
Materials Required
Cardboard
◾9V Battery
◾2 On-off switches
◾2 LED (3V)
◾2 Resistance ( 100 ohm each)
◾1 Capacitor ( 1000uf, 50V)
Theory
Charging and discharging follow exponential
mathematical relations.
Charging equation: V = V₀(1 − e⁻ᵗ/RC).
Discharging equation: V = V₀e⁻ᵗ/RC.
The rate depends on resistance (R) and
capacitance (C).
These equations are derived using Kirchhoff’s
loop law.
Time Constant (τ)
• Time constant τ is defined as the product of
resistance and capacitance.
• τ = R × C.
• At t = τ, capacitor charges up to 63% of its
maximum voltage.
• During discharging, 63% of stored voltage is
lost at τ.
• Time constant determines the speed of
charging and discharging.
Experimental
Procedure
Connect resistor and capacitor in series on a
breadboard.
Connect multimeter across capacitor
terminals.
Attach the battery and start the
stopwatch.
Record voltage at regular time intervals.
Remove battery and observe discharging
readings.
Plot voltage vs time graphs for both cases
Observation
Voltage increases gradually during charging.
Voltage decreases gradually during discharging.
The change is rapid initially and slows down with time.
Observed values closely match theoretical predictions.
Graphical Representation
Charging graph shows exponential rise of voltage.
Discharging graph shows exponential decay of voltage.
Time is taken on X-axis and voltage on Y-axis.
Graphs confirm the nature of RC circuits.
Calculation
Using Kirchhoff’s loop law: Voltage across capacitor
𝐸 − 𝑉𝑐 − 𝐼𝑅 = 0 Since, Q=CV and 𝑄𝑜 = 𝐶𝑉0
𝑡
−𝑅𝐶
Since, 𝑉 = 𝑉0 1 − 𝑒
𝑄 𝑑𝑄
𝑉𝑐 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 = This is the charging equation of a capacitor
𝐶 𝑑𝑡
Substituting into the equation: Discharging Equation,
𝑄 𝑑𝑄
𝐸 − −𝑅 =0 For discharging equation (no battery):
𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑡
−𝑅𝐶
Rearranging, 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒
𝑑𝑄 𝐸𝐶 −𝑄
= Time Constant (τ)
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐶
Integrating, τ = RC
𝑡
−𝑅𝐶
𝑄 = 𝐸𝐶 1 − 𝑒 At 𝑡 = 𝑅𝐶
Let 𝑄0 = 𝐸𝐶 (maximum charge) 𝑉 = 𝑉0 1 − 𝑒 −1 ≈ 0.63𝑉0
So, so, 63% of the maximum charge or voltage is
𝑡
−𝑅𝐶
𝑄 = 𝑄0 1 − 𝑒 reached in one time constant.
Applications
• Energy Storage
• Timing and Delay Circuits
• Filtering in Power Supplies
• Pulse and Waveform Shaping
• Measurement of Resistance and Capacitance
Limitations
• Limited Energy
• Storage Leakage Current
• Voltage Rating Limitation
• Sensitivity to Component Values
• Temperature Dependence
• Not Instantaneous for large RC Values
Conclusion
Charging and discharging of capacitor are time-dependent processes.
RC circuits obey exponential laws.
63% rule verifies the concept of time constant.
The experiment confirms theoretical results practically.
Precautions
Ensure proper and tight connections.
Do not exceed rated voltage of capacitor.
Handle battery and components carefully.
Perform experiment under supervision.
Thank you!
