DETERMINE THE EQUATION OF VOLTAGE

AND CURRENT OF A CAPACITOR WHEN t ≥ 0

OR WHEN – ꚙ ≤ t ≤ + ꚙ

This is a function with respect to time

Charging
𝑑𝑣𝑐
iC = C
𝑑𝑡 R1
𝑑𝑣𝑐
vR1 = R1 iC = R1 C ic
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑐
C VC
KVL: E = vR1 + vC = R1 C + vC E R2
𝑑𝑡
=> vC (t) = E – (E – v ) 𝑒 −𝑡/τc
0
Where τc= R1 C and v0 = vC (0)
Discharging
R1
KVL: vR1 + vR1 + vC = 0
I
𝑑𝑣𝑐 id
(R1+R2) C + vC = 0 C VC
𝑑𝑡 E R2
=> vC (t) = v’0 𝑒 −𝑡/τd
Where τd= (R1 + R2) C and v’0 = vC (0) 2
 General equations
𝑡
−
vc(t) = Vss + k 𝑒 𝜏

• vc(t): instantaneous voltage valid for all t

• Vss: steady state voltage i.e. when vc(∞)
• k: constant = vc(0) – Vss
• 𝜏 = 𝑅𝑡ℎ C
𝑑𝑣𝑐
ic(t) = C
𝑑𝑡
 Method
Find:
1. vC(0-) to determine vC(0+)
2. vC (ꚙ) to determine vSS
3. τ = Rth C
4. k = vC(0+) – vSS
Establish:
𝑡
−
1. vc(t) = Vss + k 𝑒 𝜏

𝑑𝑣𝑐
2. ic(t) = C
𝑑𝑡
Plot: vc(t) and ic(t)
 vAB [V]
5Ω
Transient Steady state
I
1 5

2
iAB
A Capacitor is charging
5V 0 τ t
τ: time constant
II vAB
10 Ω iAB [A]

B 1

0 τ t
𝑡
−
vc(t) = Vss + k 𝑒 𝜏
5Ω I vAB [V]
1 5
𝑑𝑣
2 ic(t) = C
iAB 𝑑𝑡
5V A
0 t
II vAB τ τ time constant

10 Ω τ Transient Steady state Capacitor is discharging

B iAB [A]
0
t

- 0.5
 Example

Switch was open for a long time, at t = 0 sec it closes

Find: VC and ic for t ≥ 0

t=0

Vc 0.1F
4Ω 12Ω 10V
2Ω
 Solution
t = 0-
=> For t ≥ 0:
1. Switch: open − 5𝑡 − 5𝑡
vc (0-) = 0 v c(t) = 10 – 10 𝑒 = 10 (1 – 𝑒 )
2. C: empty 𝑑𝑣𝑐
ic(t) = C = 0.1(–10) (–5) 𝑒 − 5𝑡 = 5 𝑒 − 5𝑡
t = 0+ 𝑑𝑡

vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 0 t=0

t →ꚙ
Vc 0.1F
1. Switch: closed 4Ω 12Ω 10V
v(ꚙ) = vSS = 10V
2. C: full => OC 2Ω
1
3. τ = Rth C = 2 x 0.1 = 0.2 = sec
5
4. k = vC(0+) – vSS = 0 – 10 = – 10 Vc
4Ω 12Ω 10V
2Ω
 Solution: Plots
vc (0-) = 0 Vc [V]

vc (0+) = 0 10

vc(ꚙ) = 10V
τ = 0.2 sec 0.2 t [s]

ic (0-) = 0A ic [A]
5
ic (0+) = 5A
ic(ꚙ) = 0A
0.2 t [s]
 Example

Switch was closed for a long time, at t = 0 sec it opens

Find: VC and ic for – ꚙ ≤ t ≤ + ꚙ

t=0

Vc 0.1F
4Ω 12Ω 10V
2Ω
 Solution
t = 0-
1. Switch: closed => For – ꚙ ≤ t ≤ + ꚙ:
vc (0-) = 10V
2. C: full => OC vc(t) = 10 𝑒 − 2𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑐
t = 0+ ic(t) = C = 0.1(10) (–2) 𝑒 −2𝑡 = –2 𝑒 − 2𝑡
𝑑𝑡
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 10V
t →ꚙ
Vc
1. Switch: open 4Ω 12Ω 10V
v(ꚙ) = vSS = 0V
2. C: empty 2Ω
3. τ = Rth C = 5 x 0.1 = 0.5 = ½ sec
Rth= 4//12 +2 = 5Ω
4. k = vC(0+) – vSS = 10 – 0 = 10 12Ω
4Ω
2Ω
 Solution: Plots
Vc [V]
vc (0-) = 10V
10
vC (0+) = 10V
v(ꚙ) = 0V
τ = 0.5 sec
0.5 t [s]
ic (0-) = 0A
ic (0+) = –2 𝑒 0 = – 2 A ic [A]
0.5
ic(ꚙ) = 0A t [s]

-2
Solution: Plots
Vc [V]

10

0.5 t [s]

ic [A]
0.5

t [s]

-2
 Example
5Ω
t=0
ic

VC 4F 5Ω 2A

Switch was open for a long time, at t = 0 sec it closes

Find: VC and ic for t ≥ 0

13
t = 0- Solution
1. Switch: open
vc (0-) = 10V 5Ω
2. C: full => OC t=0
ic
t = 0+
VC 4F 5Ω 2A
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 10V
t →ꚙ 5Ω

1. Switch: closed
v(ꚙ) = vSS = 5V VC 5Ω 2A
2. C: full => OC
3. τ = Rth C = 2.5 x 0.4 = 10 sec 5Ω

4. k = vC(0+) – vSS = 10 – 5 = 5 5Ω
Rth= 5//5 = 2.5Ω
=> For t ≥ 0:
vc(t) = 5 + 5 𝑒 − 𝑡/10 = 5 (1 + 𝑒 − 𝑡/10 )
𝑑𝑣𝑐
ic(t) = C = 4 (5) (–1/10) 𝑒 −𝑡/10 = –2 𝑒 − 𝑡/10
𝑑𝑡
 Solution: Plots

Vc [V]
vc (0-) = 10V
10
vC (0+) = 10V
5
v(ꚙ) = 5V
τ = 10 sec 10
t [s]
ic (0-) = 0A
ic (0+) = –2 𝑒 0 = – 2 A
ic [A]
10
ic(ꚙ) = 0A t [s]

-2
 Example
1 2
t=0 t=0
20Ω
Switch 1 was open for a long 95V i2 ic i3 i1
time, switch 2 was closed for a vc 5Ω 15V
0.1F i3
long time. At t = 0 sec they do
the opposite
Find: VC and ic , i1, i2, i3 for t ≥ 0

16
t = 0-
Solution
1. Switch 1: open, switch 2: closed
2. C: full => OC 1
t=0 2
t=0
20Ω
=> vc (0-) = 15V ic i1
i2 i3
15 95V vc
i1 = i3 = = 3A 5Ω 15V
5 0.1F i3
i2 = iC = 0A
t = 0+
1 2
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 15V
i2 ic i3 i1
vc 5Ω 15V

17
t = 0+
Solution
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 15V
Switch 1: closed, switch 2: open 1
t=0 2
t=0
20Ω
i1 = 0
ic i3 i1
95 −15 95V i2
i2 = = 4A vc 5Ω 15V
20 0.1F i3
15
i3 = = 3A
5
ic = i2 – i3 = 4 – 3 = 1A 1 2
20Ω
ic i3 i1
95V i2
vc 5Ω 15V
0.1F

18
t →ꚙ Solution
1. Switch 1: closed, switch 2: open 1 2
t=0 t=0
2. C: full => OC 20Ω
ic i3 i1
5 95V i2
=> vc = 95 = 19V = vss vc 5Ω 15V
20+5 0.1F i3
ic = 0A
i1 = 0A 1 2
20Ω
i2 = i3 = 19/5 = 3.8A ic i3 i1
1 95V i2
τ = Rth C = 4 x 0.1 = 0.4 = 2.5 sec vc 5Ω
0.1F
k = vC(0+) – vSS = 15 – 19 = – 4
20Ω
=> For t ≥ 0: vc(t) = 19 – 4 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡 vc
Rth= 20//5 = 4Ω
5Ω
19
 Solution
For t ≥ 0:

vc(t) = 19 – 4 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑐
ic(t) = C = 0.1 (– 4) (– 2.5) 𝑒 −2.5𝑡 = 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
𝑑𝑡 1 2
i1 = 0A 20Ω
95 − (19 −4 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡 ) ic i3 i1
95V i2
i2 = = 3.8 + 0.2 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡 vc 5Ω
20
0.1F
19 −4 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
i3 = = 3.8 – 0.8 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
5

20
 Summary and Plots
t = 0- t = 0+ t→ꚙ t≥0
vc[V] 15 15 19 19 – 4 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
i1[A] 3 0 0 0
i2[A] 0 4 3.8 3.8 + 0.2 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
i3[A] 3 3 3.8 3.8 – 0.8 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
ic[A] 0 1 0 𝑒 − 2.5𝑡
Vc [V] i1[A] i2[A] i3[A] ic [A]

19 4 3.8
3
1
15 3.8 3

0.4 t [s] t [s] 0.4 t [s] 0.4 t [s] 0.4 t [s]

 Example
t=0
Switch was at 0 for a long time, at t = 0 sec 4KΩ 1 6KΩ

it goes to 1 and stays there for 3sec then 100V

0
t = 3s
vc
goes back to 0 14KΩ
100µF
Find: VC and ic for t ≥ 0, VC (2sec) and VC
(5sec)
The way to treat this problem:
Step 1: Ignore the fact that after 3 sec switch goes to 0 again i.e.,
solve the problem as if after t = 0+ the switch stays at 1 for ever.

22
 Solution
t = 0- t=0
1. Switch: at 0, no source 4KΩ 1 6KΩ

2. C: empty
vc (0-) = 0 0
100V t = 3s
vc
t = 0+ 14KΩ
100µF
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 0V
t →ꚙ 4KΩ 1 6KΩ
1. Switch: at 1 vc (ꚙ) = 100V = vSS 100V
0

2. C: full => OC vc
3. τ = Rth C = (6 + 4)103 x 100*10-6 = 1sec
4. k = vC(0+) – vSS = – 100 4KΩ 6KΩ

=> For t ≥ 0: C
vc(t) = 100 – 100 𝑒 − 𝑡 = 100 (1 – 𝑒 − 𝑡 ) [V]
𝑑𝑣
ic(t) = C 𝑐 = 100*10-6 (– 100 ) (–1) 𝑒 −𝑡 = 0.01 𝑒 − 𝑡 [A] = 10 𝑒 − 𝑡 [mA] 23
𝑑𝑡
The way to treat this problem:
Step 1: Ignore the fact that after 3 sec switch goes to 0 again i.e., solve the
problem as if after t = 0+ the switch stays at 1 for ever.
Step 2: Calculate Vc for t = 3 sec
=> vc(3-) = 100 (1 – 𝑒 − 3 ) = 95V = vc(3+)
Step 3: Define a new time scale: t’ = t – 3 i.e., when t = 3 sec, t’ = 0 sec. Then
continue to solve the problem using t’ with vc(t’ =0-) = 95V
t’ = 0- Solution
1. Switch: at 1
vc (0-) = 95V t=0
2. C: full => OC 4KΩ 1 6KΩ

t‘ = 0+ 100V
0
t = 3s
vc
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 95V 14KΩ
100µF
t’ →ꚙ
6KΩ
1. Switch: at 0
vc (ꚙ) = 0V = vSS 0
2. C: empty
14KΩ
C
3. τ’ = Rth C = (6 + 14)103 x 100*10-6 = 2sec
4. k = vC(0+) – vSS = 95
=> For t’ ≥ 0:
′
vc(t’) = 95𝑒 − 0.5 𝑡 [V]
𝑑𝑣𝑐 −0.5𝑡 ′
− 0.5𝑡 ′
ic(t’) = C = 100*10 (95) (–0.5) 𝑒
-6 = – 4.75 𝑒 [mA]
𝑑𝑡 25
The way to treat this problem:
Step 1: Ignore the fact that after 3 sec switch goes to 0 again i.e., solve the
problem as if after t = 0+ the switch stays at 1 for ever.
Step 2: Calculate Vc for t = 3 sec
=> vc(3-) = 100 (1 – 𝑒 − 3 ) = 95V = vc(3+)
Step 3: Define a new time scale: t’ = t – 3 i.e., when t = 3 sec, t’ = 0 sec. Then
continue to solve the problem using t’ with vc(t’ =0-) = 95V
Step 4: Summarize all results with respect to the time t.
 Summary
For 0 ≤ t ≤ 3 sec
vc(t) = 100 (1 – 𝑒 − 𝑡 ) [V] (1) For t = 0-
ic(t) = 10 𝑒 − 𝑡 [mA] (2) vc = 0
For t ≥ 3 sec ic = 0A
vc(t) = 95𝑒 − 0.5 (𝑡 −3) [V] (3) For t = 0+
ic(t) = – 4.75 𝑒 − 0.5 (𝑡 −3) [mA] (4) vc = 0
(2) => ic = 10 𝑒 − 0 = 10mA (= 100/10K)
For t = 2sec
4KΩ 6KΩ
6KΩ
(1) => vc = 100 (1 – 𝑒 − 2 ) = 86.5V
ic 100 − 86.5
100V ic (2) => ic = 10 𝑒 − 2 = 1.35 mA (= )
86.5V 35V 10𝐾
14KΩ
t = 2sec t = 5sec For t = 3sec
(1) or (3) => vc = 95V
100 − 95
(2) => ic = 10 𝑒 − 3 = 0.5 mA (= )
6KΩ 6KΩ 10𝐾
95
ic (4) => ic = – 4.75 𝑒 − 0.5 (𝑡 −3) = – 4.75 mA (= )
ic 20𝐾
100V
95V
14KΩ 95V For t = 5sec
t = 3sec -
t = 3sec + (3) => Vc = 95𝑒 − 0.5 (5 −3) = 35V
35
(4) => ic = – 4.75 𝑒 − 0.5 (5 −3) = – 1.75 mA (= )
20𝐾
 Plots
For t = 0- Vc [V]
vc = 0
100
ic = 0A 95
For t = 0+
vc = 0
ic = 10mA
1 3 5 t [s]
For t = 3sec
vc = 95V ic [mA]
ic = 0.5 mA 10
ic = – 4.75 mA
τ = 1sec for 0 ≤ t ≤ 3 sec 0.5

τ’ = 2sec for t ≥ 3 sec - 4.75

1 3 5 t [s]
Plots
Vc [V]

100
95

1 3 5 t [s]
ic [mA]
10

0.5
1 3 5 t [s]
- 4.75
Plots
Vc [V]

100
95

1 3 5 t [s]
ic [mA]
10

0.5
1 3 5 t [s]
- 4.75
 Reminder
1. Capacitor is a storing energy element: it can be charged and discharged =>
time constant 𝜏 = 𝑅𝑡ℎ C
2. Charging and discharging currents are in opposite direction
3. Empty => Closed switch, Full => Open switch
4. Q [C] = C [F] . V [V]
5. Stored energy W [J] = ½ C [F] . V2 [V]
6. Voltage cannot change instantly v(0+) = v(0-)
7. Current changes instantly i(0) = max
𝑡
8. For t ≥0: vc(t) = Vss + k 𝑒− 𝜏 and
𝑑𝑣𝑐
9. ic(t) = C
𝑑𝑡