MAYOOR PRIVATE SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.

A Project Report
On
CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF
CAPACITOR IN RC CIRCUIT

For
Grade XII AISSCE 2024-25 Examination
PHYSICS
SUBMITTED BY

NAME: _______________________

CBSE ROLL NO: _______________________

Under the Guidance of

MS.GARIMA BALIYAN
 Mayoor Private School ‫مدرسة مايو الخاصة‬

Discover the difference…

AISSCE (Class XII) Practical Examination in Physics 2024-25

CERTIFICATE
Certified that the entries in the project file is the bonafide work of

Master/ Miss: ………………………………………………………………...

Grade: …………………………….Div: ……………………………………..

CBSE Roll No: ……………………………………………………………….

Completed during the Academic Year 2024-2025

Teacher in charge: ………………...

External Examiner: _____________ Internal Examiner: ________________

Principal:__________________________
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am wholeheartedly grateful to all those who have supported and
contributed to the completion of this project and experiment. This
would not have been possible without their valuable assistance,
guidance, and cooperation.

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to CBSE, our

principal Dr. Anna Pagdiwalla, for providing us the opportunity
to take up this project.

I thank and acknowledge the knowledge and support of our

Physics teacher, Ms. Garima Baliyan, who efficiently guided and
motivated us.

I would also like to thank the teaching staff, our lab teachers, my
parents, my classmates, and last but not least, my teammates for
their resourceful contributions and kind cooperation.
 INDEX
S.No Contents
1. Introduction
2. Aim
3. Theory
4. Apparatus
5. Procedure
6. Observation Table
7. Graphs
8. Result
9. Sources of error
10. Precautions
11. Real-life applications
12. Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
In this experiment, we investigated the fundamental
principles of charging and discharging a capacitor in
an RC circuit. By analyzing the behavior of a
capacitor as it stores and releases electrical energy, we
aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the
time-dependent nature of these processes. The
experimental setup involved a simple RC circuit
consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, a battery, and a
breadboard. By measuring the voltage across the
capacitor at various time intervals during both the
charging and discharging phases, we were able to
observe the exponential nature of the voltage curves
and determine the circuit’s time constant.

1
 AIM:

To study the charging and discharging of a

capacitor in an RC circuit and determine
the time constants.

2
 Theory

An RC circuit is a simple circuit consisting of a resistor and a capacitor

connected in series. When the batter is connected, the capacitor begins
to charge. The voltage across the capacitor increases exponentially
with time, as described by the equation:
𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶
𝑉(𝑡) = 𝑉₀ (1 − 𝑒 )

where V(t) is the voltage across the capacitor at time t, V₀ is the battery
voltage, R is the resistance of the resistor, C is the capacitance of the
capacitor, and RC is the time constant of the circuit.

The time constant measures how quickly the capacitor charges or

discharges. It is equal to the product of the resistance and the
capacitance. After one time constant, the capacitor charges to
approximately 63.2% of its maximum voltage. After five time
constants, the capacitor is considered to be fully charged.

When the battery is disconnected from the circuit, the capacitor begins
to discharge. The voltage across the capacitor decreases exponentially
with time, as described by the equation:
𝑡
(− 𝑅𝐶
)
𝑉(𝑡) = 𝑉₀ 𝑒

The time constant for discharging is the same as the time constant for
charging. After one time constant, the capacitor has discharged to
approximately 36.8% of its initial voltage. After five time constants,
the capacitor is considered to be fully discharged.

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 MATERIALS REQUIRED:
1. Cardboard

2. 100µF

3.10KΩ

4. Multi-meter

5. 9V battery

6. Wire stripper, connecting wires, battery connector

7. Stopwatch

8. Breadboard

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 PROCEDURE:

Charging:
1. Connect the capacitor in series with the resistor and battery.
2. Measure the initial voltage across the capacitor (should be
zero).
3. Close the circuit and start the timer.
4. Record the voltage across the capacitor at regular intervals until
it reaches a steady state.
5. Plot the voltage vs. time graph.

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Discharging:
1. Disconnect the power supply and connect the resistor across
the capacitor.
2. Measure the initial voltage across the capacitor (should be the
steady-state voltage from the charging process).
3. Start the timer and record the voltage across the capacitor at
regular intervals until it drops to zero.
4. Plot the voltage vs. time graph.

6
 OBSERVATIONS:

I.Charging of capacitor:

S.No Voltage across capacitor Time (in s)

(inV)
1 0 0
2 4.90 3
3 6.68 4
4 8.05 5
5 8.74 6
6 8.85 7
7 8.86 8
8 8.89 9
9 8.89 10

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II.Discharging of capacitor:

S.No Voltage across capacitor Time (in s)

(inV)

1 8.89 0
2 7.20 1
3 5.83 2
4 4.73 3
5 3.09 4
6 2.07 5
7 1.12 6
8 0.41 7

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GRAPH:

9
 Result:

The time constant of the RC circuit as determined by charging and discharging of the
capacitor is :

The theoretical value for charging (τ1)= 6 s

The theoretical value for discharging(τ2)= 4 s

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 Sources Of Errors
1. Equipment Limitations:

● Digital Multimeter: The accuracy of the voltage readings depends

on the multimeter's resolution and calibration. Inaccurate
readings could lead to errors in the data.
● Stopwatch: Human reaction time and the precision of the
stopwatch can affect the accuracy of time measurements,
especially for shorter intervals.
● Capacitor and Resistor: The tolerance of the capacitor and
resistor values can introduce errors in the calculated time
constant.

2. Experimental Setup:

● Wire Resistance: The resistance of the connecting wires,

although small, can contribute to the overall resistance of the
circuit, affecting the time constant.
● Internal Resistance of Battery: The internal resistance of the
battery can reduce the voltage available for charging the
capacitor, leading to inaccuracies in the measurements.

3. Personal Error:

● Reading Errors: Incorrect reading of the multimeter or stopwatch

can lead to data errors.
● Timing Errors: Inaccurate timing of the charging and discharging
processes can affect the data.
● Data Recording Errors: Mistakes in recording the data can
introduce errors in the analysis.

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 Precautions
● Handle the components carefully. Avoid touching the leads of the
components with your bare hands, as this can lead to damage or
injury.

● The value of the capacitor C and resistance R should be chosen to

keep the time constant RC large.

● Avoid short circuits. Short circuits can damage the components

and cause a fire hazard.

● Always discharge capacitors fully before handling or making

adjustments to the circuit to avoid electric shock.

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 Real-Life Application
Real-Life Applications of RC Circuits
With their ability to control the flow of electrical current over time,
RC circuits find numerous applications in various fields.

Electronics:
● Timers: RC circuits can be used to create timers for various
purposes, such as controlling the duration of a light or the delay
in a digital circuit.
● Power Supplies: RC circuits are used in power supplies to
smooth out the output voltage and reduce ripple.

Photography:
● Flash Circuits: RC circuits control the charging and
discharging of the capacitor in a camera's flash unit,
determining the intensity and duration of the flash.

Medicine:
● Defibrillators: RC circuits are used to control the timing and
energy delivery of defibrillators, which are used to restore
normal heart rhythm.

Automotive:
● Ignition Systems: RC circuits are used in ignition systems to
control the timing of the spark plugs, optimizing engine
performance and fuel efficiency.

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 Bibliography
https://www.jove.com/science-education/14194/applications-
of-rc-circuits

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/rc-circuit/

https://alllabexperiments.com/charging_discharging_timecon
stant/

http://labman.phys.utk.edu/phys222core/modules/m3/RC%20
circuits.html#:~:text=V%20%3D%20V0(1%20%2D,capacito
r%20is%20being%20charged%20is

https://knowledgecycle.in/charging-and-discharging-of-capac
itor-investigatory-project-pdf/

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