Experiment 7

The RC Circuit

Name:Abdelhameed Abdelhafez ID:91949

Name:Mohammed Hasan ID:94852
Date:22/3/2023 Workstation #:9

Objectives
- Conducting experiments for an RC circuit using a carbon resistor and capacitor components
- Plotting graphs from the values of voltage across capacitor (Vc) and time taken (T)
obtained
- Reading the values of Experimental Time (Texp) for the charging and discharging
capacitor from the graph and calculating the final value of Texp
- Comparing the values of Texp with the real value (Treal) and finding %error
- For the second experiment, using the pasco capstone software to plot graph for RC
circuit in series and parallel.
- Calculating the experimental capacitance values for both the series and parallel RC
circuits and comparing to their respective real values and finding the %error
- Stating the values of time taken to charge for the series and parallel circuits
- Discussing the results for both the parts

Data and Data Analysis

1. Draw the circuits.

2. Read the supply voltage o, using digital multimeter.

o = 8.06 V
3. Take time readings for the voltage readings of 1.0V, 2.0V, 3.0V, , up to 7.0V during
the charging process of the capacitor. Record the data in Table 1.

4. Discharge the capacitor through R and record the time readings for the voltage values of
8.0, 7.0, 6.0, …. to 1.0V. Record the data in Table 1.

Table 1

Charging of a Capacitor Discharging of a Capacitor

Vc(V) Time (s ) Vc(V ) Time (s )
0.00 0.00 8.00 0.00
14.17 13.12
1.00 7.00
30.03 30.73
2.00 6.00

3.00 49.60 5.00 49.75

4.00 73.15 4.00 73.03

5.00 104.40 3.00 104.1

 6.00 149.50 2.00 147.25

7.00 229.55 1.00 222.95

Charging of the capacitor Discharging of the capacitor

5. Plot a graph of Vc versus t for charging Plot a graph of Vc versus t for discharging

6. Determine the time constant chg. Determine the time constant dischg.
Show your work on the graph paper. Show your work on the graph paper.

chg = 104s dischg = 104s

7. Compute the average experimental time constantτ exp, using the charging and discharging
time constants computed above.

τ exp = 104+104 / 2 = 104s

8. Read the values of C and R. The real values can be read from the components.

C = 1000 microfarads R = 10 x 10^4 +/- 5% ohms

Click here to attach the graph.

9. Calculate the real value of the time constant real = RC for the circuit.

real = R x c = 10 x 10^4 x 1000 x 10^-6 = 100s

10. Compare the average experimental time constant τ exp obtained in (7) with the real time
constant real obtained in (9).

% Error=
| |
X exp−X real
X real |
x 100= |
104−100
100
x 100=4.00 % error

Series and Parallel combinations of a capacitor using an interface.

a) Complete the circuit of a 100 ohms resistor in series with a series combination of two
capacitors.
b) Run the experiment (follow the procedure). Record experimental time constant for series.

11. Record the experimental value of time constant for series combination.

 series exp = 0.035 s

a) Complete the circuit of a 100 ohms resistor in series with a parallel combination of two
capacitors.
b) Run the experiment (follow the procedure). Record experimental time constant for
parallel.
12. Record the experimental value of time constant for parallel combination.

parallel exp = 0.147 s

Record the values of the capacitors. (The values are printed on the capacitor)

C1 = 470 microfarads C2 = 1000 microfarads

Series Combination

13. Using the equation (5) calculate the real value of equivalent capacitance for series
combination.

Cs real =
1 1 1
= + +… = (1 /( 470 x 10^-6) + 1/(1000 x 10^-6))^-1 = Cs = 3.20 x 10^-4 farads
Cs C 1 C2

14. Use the time constant (from step 11) to calculate the experimental value of equivalent
capacitance in series combination.

Cs exp = time constant / R = 0.035 / 100 = 3.5 x 10^-4 farads

15. Calculate the % error between the real and experimental values of capacitance determined
above.
 | X exp−X real
| | | | |
−4 −4
3.5 x 10 −3.2 x 10 3.5−3.2
% Error= x 100 = x 100= x 100=9.3 8 %error
X real 3.2 x 10 −4
3.2

Parallel Combination

16. Using equation (6) calculate the real value of equivalent capacitance for parallel
combination.

Cp real = CP = C1 + C2 +… = (470 x 10^-6) + (1000 x 10^-6) = 1.47 x 10^-3 farads

17. Use the time constant from (step 12) to calculate the experimental value of equivalent
capacitance in parallel combination.

Cp exp = time constant / R = 0.147 / 100 = 1.47 x 10^-3

18. Calculate the % error between the real and experimental values of capacitance determined
above.

% Error = % Error= | X real |

X exp−X real
x 100 =

| 1.47 x 10−3 −1.47 x 10−3

1.47 x 10 −3 |
x 100= |
1.47−1.47
1.47 |
x 100=0 % error

19. Discuss your results and conclusions. Both parts.

Part 1-
As for the graph, it has a exponential shape for both the charging and discharging graphs. The
charging graph has a positive shape whereas the discharging one has a negative shape.
Our % error was 4.00%, which is <5%. So our value is highly accurate. This shows our %
error is low which means the the method used for plotting the graph is correct. This verifies
the equation of the experiment V C =ε 0 ( 1−e−t / RC ) and also verifies our experimental method.
Part 2-
The % error for the series RC circuit was 9.38% and for the parallel was 0%. Both of these
values are <10%. I can conclude that our data is accurate, and there are low systematic errors
present. And therefore this equation V C =ε 0 ( 1−e−t / RC ) is verified.

For part 2, we also find that Tseries < Tparallel (0.035s < 0.147s) so therefore the series RC
circuit charges faster so when you need a capacitor circuit to charge quickly, you should use
the series RC circuit.