BHOLANANDA NATIONAL

VIDYALAYA

A.I.S.S.C.E Examination

Session: 2024-25

PROJECT

Topic: Charging and discharging of capacitors

Name: Agnibh Ghosh

Class: XII

Section: C

Roll No:
 CERTIFICATE OF EFFORT

This is to certify that …………………………..., a student of class XII (science /commerce/ arts)

Section-……., Roll no-……, has successfully completed his / her project of

……………………… for AISSCE, as prescribed by CBSE in year 2024-2025.

(Signature of Subject teacher) (Signature of Principal)

(Signature of External Examiner)

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To everyone who has assisted me in doing my physics project on "Charging and discharging of
Capacitors", I sincerely thank you. The success of this project would not have been achieved
without their help.

I want to start by expressing my sincere gratitude to my teacher, Mr. Abdul Moid, for giving me
the tools I needed and for always being willing to answer any questions or dispel any doubts I
had.

I also want to express my gratitude to my parents for their continous support and encouragement
during the endeavor.

Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow classmates for their co-operation and suggestions in
making this project a success.
 Table Of Contents
Sl. No Contents Page No.

1 Capacitor 1

2 Types of Capacitors 2

3 Application of Capacitors 3

4 Capacitance of a Capacitor 4

5 Units of Capacitance 4

6 Equation of Capacitance 5

7 Capacitors in series and parallel 6

8 Charging and discharging of capacitors 6

9 Charging of a capacitor 8

10 Time constant 10

11 Discharging of a capacitor 11

12 Current during charging and discharging of a 12

capacitor

13 Bibliography 14
 CAPACITOR
The capacitor is an electric component that has the ability to store energy in the form of electrical charges
that creates a potential difference, which is a static voltage, much like a small rechargeable battery. The
most basic design of a capacitor consists of two parallel conductors (Metallic plate), separated with a
dielectric material. When a voltage source is attached across the capacitor, the capacitor plate gets
charged up. The metallic plate attached to the positive terminal will be positively charged and the plate
attached to the negative terminal will be negatively charged. Capacitors are usually designed to enhance
and increase the effect of capacitance. Therefore they take into account properties like size and shape. The
storing capacity of capacitance may vary from small storage to high storage.
 TYPES OF CAPACITORS

There are two types of capacitors: Fixed capacitors and variable capacitors. These two contain different
types of capacitors including non-polarised and polarised for the fixed group and tuning and trimming for
the variable group.

1. Fixed Capacitors: These are among the major types of capacitors. These ones have fixed
capacitance values. Fixed capacitors have different types such as:

 Ceramic capacitors
 Electrolytic capacitors
 Film and paper capacitors
 Super capacitors
 Glass, air-gap, vacuum, silicon, silver mica capacitors.

2. Variable capacitors: These ones, on the contrary, have adjustable capacitance values (these values
are tunable). Although some people believe that fixed capacitors are more important, the variable
ones come in handy in many situations as well.
 APPLICATIONS OF CAPACITORS

Some applications of capacitors are listed below:

o The fundamental use of a capacitor is to store energy in the form of electricity.

o Also, it works as a temporary battery that maintains the power supply while the power is cut off.

o In domestic as well as commercial appliances like batteries, fans, cameras, coolers, electronic
chargers. LED lights, audio equipment, etc., the capacitor is needed.

o Also, the capacitor is widely used in computers in cases of an emergency shutdown of the system.

o In the power system, capacitor banks are widely used for regulating voltage and improving the
quality of power supply.

o The capacitor includes AC to DC converters (for example, Chargers).

o In audio equipment and gadgets such as loudspeakers, microphones, woofers, tweeters, etc.,
capacitors are inbuilt to filter and manipulate signals.

o Also capacitors are used in electrical measuring equipment (for example, sensors).

o This device is very useful for decoupling or smoothing the output voltage in the rectifier circuits.
Especially a smoothing capacitor is used.

o In electronics and telecommunication devices (such as television receivers, transmitter circuits, and
radio), it is widely used.
 CAPACITANCE OF A CAPACITOR
When a voltage is applied to the two plates, positive charge builds up on one plate and negative charge
builds up on the other. This building up of charge (charging) takes time. An electric field is then created
between these two plates going from the positively charged plate to the negatively charged plate. The
accumulation of charges in the conductors causes a potential difference across the capacitor. The amount
of charge accumulated is called the charge holding capacity of the capacitor. This charge holding capacity
is what is known as capacitance.

UNITS OF CAPACITANCE
The unit of capacitance is a Farad [F]. This unit can be somewhat impractical. From the vantage point of
most electrical engineers, one farad is a huge capacitance value. So commonly used units are:

o Microfarad (μF) - 1μF = 10-6 F

o Nanofarad (nF) - 1nF = 10-9 F

o Picofarad (Pf) - 1Pf = 10-12 F

 EQUATION FOR CAPACITANCE
The parallel plate capacitor has two identical conducting plates, each having a surface area A and
seperated by a distance d. When voltage V is applied to the plates, it stores charge Q.

For parallel plate capacitors, the capacitance (dependant on its geometry) is given by the formula;

εA
C= d

Where,

 C is the value of capacitance

 A is the area of each plate

 d is the distance between the plates

 ε is the permittivity of the material between the plates of the parallel capacitor.
 CAPACITOR IN SERIES AND
PARALLEL
When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance is less than any one of the series
capacitors’ individual capacities. If two or more capacitors are connected in series, the overall effect
is that of a single(equivalent) capacitor having the sum total of the plate spacing of the individual
capacitors. As we've just seen, an increase in plate spacing, with all the factors unchanged, results in
decreased capacitance.

1/CTotal = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ + 1/C₃ + ..... + 1/Cn

When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitors'
capacitances. If two or more capacitors are connected in parallel, the overall effect is that of a single
equivalent capacitor having the sum total of the plate areas of the individual capacitors. As we've just
seen, an increase in plate area, with all other factors unchanged, results in increased capacitance.

CTotal = C₁ + C₂ + C₃ + ..... + Cn

CHARGING AND DISCHARGING

OF CAPACITORS
The terms "charging" and "discharging" refer to the two processes that take place when a capacitor is
connected to a circuit that has a direct current (DC) source under particular circumstances.
When the DC power supply and capacitor are connected, current flows through the circuit. While the
capacitor is charging, equal and opposite charges are applied to both plates, resulting in a growing
potential difference, or VC. The charging phase ends when the voltage at the capacitor's terminals, VCsub,
equals the voltage from the power supply, VC = V. At this point, the capacitor is fully charged and the
current ceases to flow through the circuit.

As soon as the charging phase is over, no more current flows through a capacitor, making it equal to an
Open-Circuit to Direct Current, R = ∞. A capacitor's voltage VC cannot fluctuate suddenly. The voltage
between the plates progressively decreases to zero, VC = 0, as the capacitor is unplugged from the power
supply and begins to discharge through the resistor RD.

The capacitor's charging and discharging rates are influenced, respectively but the resistances of RC and
RD. The Time Constant T, which represents the charging and discharging rate of a capacitor, is the
product of Resistance R and Capacitance C.

Faster charging and discharging rates of the capacitor are associated with smaller resistance or capacitor
and smaller time constants, respectively.
 CHARGING OF A CAPACITOR

The capacitor starts to store charge as soon as the key is pressed. If, at any point when the capacitor is
being charged, with “I” being the current flowing through the circuit, and “Q” being the charge, then,

The resistor’s potential difference = IR,

The potential difference between the capacitor’s plates = Q/C

Given that the total of these two potentials equals ε,

RI + Q/C = ε … (i)

As the current stops flowing when the capacitor is fully charged,

When Q = Q0 (The maximum value of the charge on the capacitor), I=0

From equation (i),

Q0/C = ε … (ii)

From equations (i) and (ii),

RI + Q/C = Q0/C

Or, Q0/C- Q/C = RI

Q0-Q/CR = I … (iii)

Since I= dQ/dt, from equation (iii),

Q₀ − Q dQ dQ dt
= or =
CR dt Q₀ − Q CR

When t = 0, Q = 0 and when t = t, Q = Q

Integrating both sides within proper limits, we get;

𝑄 𝑡 𝑡
𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑡 1
∫ 0 = ∫ = = ∫ 𝑑𝑡
𝑄 −𝑄 𝐶𝑅 𝐶𝑅
0 0 0
Or

𝑄 1 𝑡
| − ln(𝑄₀ − 𝑄)| = |𝑡|
0 𝐶𝑅 0

Or

𝑡
− ln(𝑄₀ − 𝑄) + ln 𝑄0 =
𝐶𝑅

Or

𝑡
ln(𝑄₀ − 𝑄) − ln 𝑄0 = −
𝐶𝑅

Or

(𝑄₀ − 𝑄) 𝑡
ln =−
𝑄₀ 𝐶𝑅

Or

(𝑄₀ − 𝑄)
= 𝑒 𝑡/𝐶𝑅
𝑄₀

Or

𝑄0 − 𝑄 = 𝑄₀𝑒 𝑡/𝐶𝑅

Or

𝑄 = 𝑄₀(1 − 𝑒 𝑡/𝐶𝑅 )

Or

𝑄 = 𝑄₀(1 − 𝑒𝑡/𝜏) … (iv)

Where τ = CR

The value of charge on the capacitor at any point during charging is given by equation (iv).
 TIME CONSTANT
Time defines the dimensions of CR. Moreover, Q will reach its ultimate value quickly if CR <<< 1. As a
result, through a resistance, CR establishes the rate at which the capacitor charges (or discharges). It is for
this reason that the quantity CR is called time constant or, more appropriately, the capacitive time
constant of the circuit.

If t = τ, then, from equation (iv),

1
𝑄 = 𝑄₀(1 − 𝑒 −1 ) = 𝑄₀ (1 − )
𝑒

Or

1
𝑄 = 𝑄₀(1 − )
2.718

= 𝑄₀(1 − 0.368) = 0.632 𝑄₀

= 63.2% 𝑜𝑓 𝑄₀

In other words, the time constant of a CR circuit is the amount of time that the capacitor’s charge drops to
0.632 (or roughly 2/3) of its maximum value.

In order for Q = Q₀, or the capacitor’s charge to reach its maximum value (Q₀);

et/CR = 0 or t = ∞

As a result, theoretically, the charge on the capacitor will reach its maximum value only after an infinite
amount of time.
 DISCHARGING OF A CAPACITOR
When key K is released, the circuit is broken without any additional resistance being introduced. The
battery is now disconnected from the circuit, and the capacitor will discharge itself via R. If I is the
current at any point during discharge, then putting ε = 0 in RI + Q/C = ε, we get:

𝑄 𝑑𝑄 𝑄
𝑅𝐼 + = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑅 + =0
𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝐶

Or,

𝑑𝑄 𝑄 𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑡
𝑅 − − = 0 𝑜𝑟 −−
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑄 𝐶𝑅

Integrating both sides within proper limits, we get;

𝑄 𝑡 𝑡
𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑡 1
∫ = −∫ = − ∫ 𝑑𝑡
𝑄 𝐶𝑅 𝐶𝑅
𝑄₀ 0 0

Or

𝑄 1 𝑡
|ln 𝑄| 0
=− |𝑡|
𝑄 𝐶𝑅 0

Or

𝑡
ln 𝑄 − ln 𝑄₀ = −
𝐶𝑅
Or

𝑄 𝑡
ln =−
𝑄₀ 𝐶𝑅

Or

𝑄 = 𝑄₀𝑒 −𝑡/𝐶𝑅 = 𝑄₀𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 … (v)

Where τ = CR

Equation (v) calculates the charge on the capacitor at any point during discharging.
If t = CR, then from equation (v);

−1 𝑄0
𝑄 = 𝑄0𝑒 = = 0.368 𝑄 = 36.8% 𝑜𝑓 𝑄₀
𝑒

A CR circuit’s time constant is thus also the time it takes for the charge on the capacitor to fall from its
maximum value to 0.368 (approx ⅓) of its maximum value. As a result, the charge on the capacitor will
become zero only after an infinite amount of time.

CURRENT DURING CHARGING

AND DISCHARGING OF A
CAPACITOR
We know that; I= Dq/dt

During charging,

As;

𝑄 = 𝑄₀(1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 )
 𝑑 𝑑
𝐼= (𝑄) = [ 𝑄₀(1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 )]
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Or

𝐼𝑐ℎ = 𝑄₀/𝜏 . 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 = 𝐼₀𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 … (vi)

Where;

𝐼₀ = 𝑄₀/𝜏 = maximum value of current flowing through circuit.

When,

t=0 , Ich=I0

During discharging,

As,

𝑄 = 𝑄₀𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏

𝑑 𝑑
𝐼= (𝑄) = (𝑄₀𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Or,

𝐼𝑑𝑖𝑠 = −𝑄₀/𝜏. 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 = −𝐼₀𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 … (vii)

When;

t = 0, Idis = −I0 = I0

(in magnitude)

Equations (vi) and (vii) make it abundantly evident that in both charging and discharging scenarios, the
maximum values of the currents (Ich and Idis) flowing through the circuit have the identical magnitudes.
As a result, the current always drops from maximum to zero during the charging and discharging of a
capacitor via a resistance.

Furthermore, as at t = 0, Idt = I0 and Idis = -I0, the current flow directions are opposite in both
circumstances.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books:
NCERT Physics

New Millennium Physics by Dinesh Publications

New Simplified Physics by Dhanpat Rai and Co. Publications

Websites:

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]