Problem 17 Consider an electric circuit containing a capacitor, resistor, and battery; see Figure 1.2.3. The charge Q(t) on the capacitor satisfies the equation5 dQ Q R + = V, dt C where R is the resistance, C is the capacitance, and V is the constant voltage supplied by the battery. (a) If Q(0) = 0, find Q(t) at any time t, and sketch the graph of Q versus t.
(b) Find the limiting value QL that Q(t) approaches after a long time.
(c) Suppose that Q(t1 ) = QL and that at time t = t1 the battery is removed and the circuit is closed again. Find Q(t) for t > t1 and sketch its graph.
Solution
Part (a)
Q RQ0 + =V C Bring Q/C to the right side. Q RQ0 = − +V C Divide both sides by R. Q V Q0 = − + RC R 1 =− (Q − CV ) RC Divide both sides by Q − CV . Q0 1 =− Q − CV RC The left side can be written as d/dt(ln |Q − CV |) by the chain rule. The absolute value sign is included because the argument of the logarithm cannot be negative. d 1 ln |Q − CV | = − dt RC 5 This equation results from Kirchhoff’s laws, which are discussed in Section 3.7.
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Integrate both sides with respect to t.
1 ln |Q − CV | = − t + C1 RC Exponentiate both sides.
1 |Q − CV | = exp − t + C1 RC
C1 1 = e exp − t RC
Introduce ± on the right side to remove the absolute value sign.
C1 1 Q(t) − CV = ±e exp − t RC
Let A = ±eC1 and add CV to both sides to solve for Q(t).
1 Q(t) = CV + A exp − t RC
Apply the initial condition here to determine A.
Q(0) = CV + A = 0 → A = −CV
Therefore,
1 Q(t) = CV − CV exp − t . RC
1 = CV 1 − exp − t . RC
Figure 1: This figure shows the charge on the (charging) capacitor Q(t) versus time t.
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Part (b)
1 QL = lim Q(t) = lim CV 1 − exp − t = CV t→∞ t→∞ RC | {z } =0 Alternatively, we could argue that once the limiting value of charge on the capacitor is reached, equilibrium is reached and dQ/dt = 0. The original ODE becomes QL 0+ = V, C where we conclude that QL = CV as t → ∞.
Part (c)
The initial value problem here is the same as before but now V = 0 because the battery has been removed. dQ Q R + = 0, Q(0) = QL = CV dt C Bring Q/C to the right side. Q RQ0 = − C Divide both sides by RQ. Q0 1 =− Q RC The left side can be written as d/dt(ln Q) by the chain rule. d 1 ln Q = − dt RC Integrate both sides with respect to t. 1 ln Q = − t + C2 RC Exponentiate both sides.
1 Q(t) = exp − t + C2 RC
C2 1 = e exp − t RC
Let B = eC2 . 1 Q(t) = B exp − t RC Apply the initial condition to determine B.
Q(0) = B = CV
Therefore, 1 Q(t) = CV exp − t , t > t1 . RC
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Figure 2: This figure shows the charge on the (discharging) capacitor Q(t) versus time t.
