Lab Report # 04 / 05

Applied Physics (PHY-111)

Submitted by:
Usman Waheed (241520)

Department:
BSCYS-F-24-B

Submitted to:
Ma’am Shumaila Fatima

Date of Experiment Performed: 18/03/2025

Date of Lab Report Submission: 18/03/2025
 Practical:
Charging & Discharging Of Capacitor

Objective:
This experiment investigates the charging and discharging dynamics of capacitors in RC
circuits. The charging process examines how capacitors accumulate charge exponentially,
characterized by the time constant (τ = RC), while measuring the relationship between
charging time and potential difference across the capacitor. The discharging phase explores
the exponential decay of voltage as the capacitor releases stored energy through a resistor,
with variations in resistance values tested to determine their impact on discharge rates.
Graphical analysis of time-dependent voltage changes during both processes provides
insights into the transient behaviour of capacitors in DC circuits.

Apparatus:
1. Battery
2. Connecting Wires.
3. Capacitor
4. Resistor
5. Stopwatch
6. Key (Switch)
7. Voltmeter

Theoretical Explanation:
A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It
consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material (dielectric) and is
measured in Farads (F).
A resistor is a passive electrical component that limits or regulates the flow of electric
current in a circuit. Its resistance is measured in Ohms (Ω)

1. Charging Process
When a direct current (DC) voltage is applied across a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit, the
capacitor initially behaves as a short circuit because there is no initial voltage across its
plates. Consequently, the maximum current flows through the circuit, limited only by the
resistance. As electric charge accumulates on the capacitor plates, a voltage develops across
the capacitor that opposes the applied voltage, causing the current to gradually decrease.
The voltage across the capacitor increases exponentially with time and asymptotically
approaches the supply voltage. The rate at which the capacitor charges is governed by the
time constant (t), defined as:
t=RC
Where:
• R = resistance in ohms (Ω)
• C = capacitance in farads (F)

Percentage of Voltage Across Capacitor during Charging:

• After 1τ, the capacitor reaches approximately 63.2% of the supply voltage.
• After 5τ, the capacitor reaches over 99% of the supply voltage.
Effect of R and C on Charging:
• A larger resistance (R) results in a slower charging process, as it limits the current.
• A larger capacitance (C) increases the time required to charge, due to greater charge
storage capacity.

2. Discharging Process
When the DC power source is removed and the capacitor is allowed to discharge through the
resistor, the stored energy is released. Initially, the discharge current is maximum, equivalent
in magnitude to the final charging current but in the opposite direction. As the capacitor
discharges, its voltage drops, leading to a corresponding decrease in current.

Percentage of Voltage During Discharging:

• After 1τ, the capacitor retains approximately 36.8% of the initial voltage.
• After 5τ, the voltage across the capacitor is almost 0%.
Effect of R and C on Discharging:
• A higher resistance (R) slows the discharge rate by restricting current flow.
• A larger capacitance (C) prolongs discharge due to increased stored energy.

3. Explanation of Exponential Behaviour

The exponential nature of both charging and discharging processes arises from the fact that
the rate of voltage change is proportional to the difference between the capacitor voltage and
the applied voltage (during charging), or to the instantaneous voltage across the capacitor
(during discharging). This results in non-linear changes in current and voltage over time.
Procedure:
Charging a Capacitor
• Connect the capacitor and resistor in series with a 1.5V DC power supply.
• Include a switch to control when the charging begins.
• Ensure the capacitor is fully discharged before starting (short the terminals).
• Close the switch to start charging and simultaneously start a timer.
• Measure and record the voltage across the capacitor at 3-second intervals until it
approaches 1.5V.
• Repeat the experiment with different resistor values to observe the effect on charging
time.

Discharging a Capacitor
• Charge the capacitor fully to 1.5V using the power supply.
• Disconnect the capacitor from the power supply.
• Connect the charged capacitor in series with a discharge resistor and a switch.
• Close the switch to start discharging and start the timer immediately.
• Measure and record the voltage across the capacitor every 3 seconds until it
approaches 0V.
• Repeat the experiment with different resistor values to observe the effect on discharge
rate.
 Calculation & Observations

Charging Of Capacitor
Time (s) Voltage (V)

0.0 0.00
0.3 0.27
0.6 0.48
0.9 0.64
1.2 0.76
1.5 0.86
1.8 0.94
2.1 1.00
2.4 1.05
2.7 1.08
3.0 1.11

Graph:
Discharging Of Capacitor

Voltage (V) Time (s)

1.3 14.3
1.2 14.6
1.15 14.9
1.1 15.2
1.05 15.5
1 15.8
0.98 16.1
0.95 16.3
0.9 16.6
0.88 16.9
0.85 17.2
0.8 17.5
0.78 17.8
0.75 18.1
0.73 18.4
0.7 18.7
0.65 19
0.61 19.3
0.6 19.6
0.6 19.9
0.55 20.2
 0.51 20.5
0.5 20.8
0.45 21.1
0.43 21.4
0.4 21.7
0.4 22
0.4 22.3

GRAPH:
Conclusion:
The experiment demonstrated that capacitors charge and discharge exponentially in RC
circuits, with the time constant (t=RC) determining the rate. Larger resistors or capacitors
increased the charging/discharging duration. During charging, voltage rose rapidly at first
before stabilizing, while discharging showed a sharp initial drop followed by gradual decay.
The results confirmed theoretical predictions of transient response in RC circuits. This
behaviour is crucial for applications like timing circuits and energy storage systems.

Precautions:

1. Always discharge the capacitor fully before handling to prevent electric shocks.
2. Connect electrolytic capacitors with the correct polarity to avoid damage.
3. Use resistors with appropriate values to limit excessive current flow.
4. Allow capacitors to cool between repeated trials to avoid overheating.
5. Ensure the power supply maintains a stable 1.5V output.
6. Disconnect power before modifying the circuit to prevent short circuits.
7. Double-check all connections before powering the circuit.
8. Work in a dry environment to avoid accidental shorting.
9. Record measurements accurately and consistently at each time interval for reliable
analysis.
10. Ensure the capacitor is fully discharged before starting the charging cycle to avoid
inaccurate readings or damage to the components.
11. Start the timer simultaneously with closing the switch to ensure accurate time-voltage
data collection.