Two students measure the time constant of an RC circuit. The first student charges the capacitor using a 12 V battery, then lets the capacitor discharge the resistor. The second student repeats the experiment using a 5 V battery

Which student measures the longer time constant? Why? Select the correct answer and explanation.

a.) The second student gets a greater time constant, since the time constant decreases as the charge on the capacitor increases.

b.) The first student gets a greater time constant, since the time constant increases as the charge on the capacitor increases.

c.) Both students get the same time constant, since the time constant does not depend on the charge on the capacitor.

Question

Andy Mays

Physics

11 August, 12:36

Two students measure the time constant of an RC circuit. The first student charges the capacitor using a 12 V battery, then lets the capacitor discharge the resistor. The second student repeats the experiment using a 5 V battery

Which student measures the longer time constant? Why? Select the correct answer and explanation.

a.) The second student gets a greater time constant, since the time constant decreases as the charge on the capacitor increases.

b.) The first student gets a greater time constant, since the time constant increases as the charge on the capacitor increases.

c.) Both students get the same time constant, since the time constant does not depend on the charge on the capacitor.

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Andrew Cobb · Answer 1

The answer is: c.) Both students get the same time constant, since the time constant does not depend on the charge on the capacitor

Explanation:

Both students, because the time constant is not dependent on the capacitor charge. We can express the equation of the time constant as follows:

Time constant = RC

In this equation it is observed that the time constant is equal to the multiplication of the resistance (R) multiplied by the capacitance (C)