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Charging a Capacitor

Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 35 of 51.

Charging through a resistor, the charge rises toward Q = C ε:

q = Q (1 − e^(−t/RC))

A charging circuit

The time constant:

τ = R C

after one τ, 63% of Q; after five τ, practically full.

The charging curve

Challenge

A 12 V battery charges an empty 100 μF capacitor through a 10 kΩ resistor. How much charge q does the capacitor hold 1 s after the switch closes?

Try it yourself

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Electricity and Magnetism

1Electric Charge and Force

Electric Charge Coulomb's Law Several Charges Recap - Charges in a Line

4Charged Conductors

The Charged Sphere Connecting Spheres Recap - Beam Between Plates

7Real Batteries

Internal Resistance The Variable Resistor Ammeters and Voltmeters Recap - Flashlight

10Magnetic Fields

Magnets and Magnetic Fields Field of a Wire Loops and Solenoids Recap - Electromagnet

2The Electric Field

The Electric Field Field of Several Charges The Uniform Field A Charge in a Uniform Field Recap - Stopping a Proton

5Capacitors

The Capacitor Combining Capacitors Changing a Capacitor Recap - Camera Flash

8Kirchhoff's Laws

The Junction Rule The Loop Rule Solving Two Loops Recap - Charging a Battery

11Magnetic Forces

Force on a Moving Charge Circles in a Field Force on a Wire Two Parallel Wires Recap - Current Balance

3Energy and Potential

Electric Potential Energy Electric Potential Field and Potential Recap - Accelerating Ions

6Current and Resistance

Current and Voltage Resistance and Ohm's Law Series and Parallel Electric Power Recap - Fairy Lights

9Capacitors in Circuits

A Capacitor in a CircuitCharging a CapacitorDischarging a Capacitor Recap - Defibrillator

12Induction

A Rod Moving in a Field Magnetic Flux Faraday's Law Lenz's Law Recap - Generator