Technical data

Charging curve of a capacitor / charging and discharging of a capacitor

Article no: P2420201

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Principle

A capacitor is charged by way of a resistor. The current is measured as a function of time and the effects of capacitance, resistance and the voltage applied are determined.

Benefits

Simple and very clear set-up: only few components required
Further experiments in electricity and electronics can be performed with the equipment

Tasks

To measure the charging current over time:

using different capacitance values C, with constant voltage U and constant resistance R
using different resistance values (C and U constant)
using different voltages (R and C constant).

To determine the equation representing the current when a capacitor is being charged, from the values measured.

Learning objectives

Charging
Discharging
Time constant
Exponential function
Half life

Even more accurate readings are possible when using the multimeter 07124-12.

Scope of delivery

Connection box	06000-00	2
Two-way switch, single pole	06005-00	1
Capacitor, 2 x 30 µF	06007-00	1
Resistor 100 Ohm, 1W, G1	39104-63	1
Resistor 1 MOhm, 1W, G1	39104-52	4
brigde plug	06027-07	2
Capacitor 1 microF, G2	39113-01	1
Capacitor 4,7microF, G2	39113-03	1
Digital stopwatch, 24 h, 1/100 s and 1 s	24025-00	1
Digital multimeter, 600V AC/DC, 10A DC, 20MΩ	07124-12	1
Connecting cable, 32 A, red, various lengths	07360-01	3
Connecting cable, 32 A, blue, various lengths	07360-04	4