ACADEMIC YEAR : 2024-25

CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF CAPACITOR

ROLL NO :

NAME : ARYAN KUSHWAHA

CLASS : XII
SUBJECT : PHYSICS
SUB CODE : 042

PROJECT GUIDE: Mr. Naresh Tiwari

PGT (Physics)
P.C. EDUCATION CENTRE
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Cadet ARYAN KUSHWAHA, CBSE Roll

No: _________________ has successfully completed the project
Work entitled Charging and discharging of capacitor in the
subject Physics laid down in the regulations of CBSE for the
purpose of Practical Examination in Class XII to be held
in PRITHVIRAJ CHAUHAN EDUCATION CENTRE on Bhaunti
Pratappur.

Signature of External Examiner Signature of Internal Examiner

Name: _________________ Name: _________________

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I want to express my special thanks of gratitude to my Physics

teacher Mr. Naresh Tiwari for his able guidance and support in
completing this project.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to our principal Mr.

SANDEEP SINGH for providing me with all the required facilities.

Secondly ,I would also like to thank my parents and friends who

helped me a lot in finishing this project within the limited time just
because of them I was able to create my project and make it good
and enjoyable experience.

Thanks for to all who helped me during the project.

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S.NO DESCRIPTION PAGE.NO

01. Introduction 04

02. Materials required 05

03. Theory 08

04. Procedure 09

05. Observation 12

06. Conclusion 13

07 Bibliography 14
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INTRODUCTION
An R-C circuit is a circuit containing a resistor and capacitor in
series to a power source. Such circuits find very important
applications in various areas of science and in basic circuits
which act as building blocks of modern technological devices.
It should be really helpful if we get comfortable with the
terminologies charging and discharging of capacitors.

Charging of capacitor :
A capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical
component used to store energy in an electric field. In
the hydraulic analogy, charge carriers flowing through
a wire are analogous to water flowing through a pipe. A
capacitor is like a rubber membrane sealed inside a
pipe. Water molecules cannot pass through the
membrane, but some watercan move by stretching the
membrane. The analogy clarifies a few aspects of
capacitors:
 The flow of current alters the charge on a capacitor, just as the
flow of water changes the position of the membrane. More
specifically, the effect of an electric current is to increase the
charge of one plate of the capacitor and decrease the charge of
the other plate by an equal amount. This is just like how, when
water flow moves the rubber membrane, it increases the amount
of water on one side of the membrane and decreases the amount
of water on the other side.

 The more a capacitor is charged, the larger its voltage drop i.e., the
more it "pushes back" against the charging current. This is
analogous to the fact that the more a membrane is stretched, the
more it pushes back on the water.
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 Current can flow "through" a capacitor even though no
individual electron can get from one side to the other. This is
analogous to the fact that water can flow through the pipe even
though no water molecule can pass through the rubber
membrane. Of course, the flow cannot continue the same
direction forever; the capacitor will experience dielectric
breakdown, and analogously the membrane will eventually
break.

 The capacitance describes how much charge can be stored on

one plate of a capacitor for a given "push" (voltage drop).A very
stretchy, flexible membrane corresponds to a higher capacitance
than a stiff membrane.

 A charged-up capacitor is storing potential energy,

analogously to a stretched membrane.

Discharging of capacitor :
Using hydraulic analogy only we can understand that
when the capacitor is charged the membrane is
stretched, but now if you allow the water to come out
slowly and let the membrane relax, then it is called
discharging of capacitor. In other words, when the
charge on each of the plates becomes zero and the
potential difference across its terminals drops to zero.
Below is a graphical description of capacitor as a pipe
with a membrane: -

 Relaxed membrane (uncharged)

 Stretched membrane (charged)

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CAPACITORS ACTUAL PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

"Some different styles of aluminum and tantalum electrolytic capacitors" by Elcap,

licensed under CC0 1.0
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Capacitor Plates with Different Charges on the Other Side

Schematic Symbol of a Capacitor

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Materials required
1. 1000µF capacitor (1)

2. 1kΩ resistor (2)

3. L.E.D (2)

4. 9 V battery(1)

5. Switch (2)

6. Connecting wires, battery connector.

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THEORY

When a capacitor of capacitance C is connected in series with a

resistor of resistance R and then connected to a battery of EMF
E it gets charged but since some resistance has been
introduced, this charging process takes some time and hence
the potential difference between the plates of the capacitor
varies as an exponential function of time, i.e.
V α e xt
The circuit diagram for this experiment is given below: -

Applying Kirchhoff’s law in the above circuit during

charging, i.e. capacitor is connected to the battery

E–Vc –iR=0… ............. (i)

𝑄
Vc=
𝐶
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Putting above value in eq. (i)

𝑄
𝐸− − 𝑖𝑅 = 0
𝐶

𝑑𝑄
Since i=
𝑑𝑡
𝑄 𝑑𝑄
Therefore, E - - R=0
𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑄 𝑑𝑄
E- = R
𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑄
EC-Q= RC
𝑑𝑡
Integrating both sides
𝑡 1 𝑄 1
∫0 𝑅𝐶 𝑑𝑡=∫0 𝐸𝐶−𝑄
𝑑𝑄

𝐸𝐶−𝑄 𝑡
− ln = .......................(ii)
𝐸𝐶 𝑅𝐶

𝑄 −𝑡
1− = 𝑒𝑅𝐶
𝐸𝐶

−𝑡
Hence we get, Q=EC(1 − 𝑒𝑅𝐶)
Since EC=Q0 for a capacitor
Therefore,
−𝑡
Q=Q0(1 − 𝑒 ) ................... (iii)
𝑅𝐶

Here, Q= charge at time t

Qo =max charge
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Also Q=CV and Qo=CVo, where V and Vo are voltage at time t

and max voltage respectively
Therefore from eq (iii),
−𝑡
CV=CVo(1 − 𝑒𝑅𝐶)
−𝑡
V=Vo(1 − 𝑒 ), this is the required expression.
𝑅𝐶

[NOTE:- This is the charging equation only, for discharging

equation proceed the same way but only remove E from
Kirchhoff law’s equation].
Thus equation for discharging,

When RC=t, then equation becomes,

V=Vo(1 − 𝑒−1)
Which on solving gives
V=0.63Vo, i.e. the voltage on capacitor at time t=RC becomes
63% of the max voltage, which means 63% of total charge has
been stored in the capacitor.
This product of R and C has been given a new name, i.e. time constant and is
denoted by τ, which means for any capacitor in RC circuit 63% of total charge is
stored at time constant.

τ = R×C=1000μF×1kΩ =1000×10−6×103=1second.
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Practical Model of Charging and Discharging of a Capacitor

Visual representation of the charging and discharging circuit using

switches, LEDs, resistors, and a 9V battery.
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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

The circuit consists of a 9V battery connected to a capacitor and two separate branches
controlled by switches. In the first branch, a 1 kΩ resistor and an LED are connected
in series with the capacitor. When the first switch is closed, the capacitor charges
through the resistor, and the LED in this branch glows as the current flows. In the
second branch, another 1 kΩ resistor and LED are connected parallel to the capacitor,
controlled by a second switch. When this switch is closed, the capacitor discharges
through the resistor and the LED in this branch, causing it to glow as the stored energy
is released. The switches allow for the controlled charging and discharging of the
capacitor, demonstrating the flow of current through each part of the circuit.
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PROCEDURE
Connect the circuit as shown in the diagram:

1. Connect the resistor in series with the capacitor and LED.

2. Attach the positive terminal of the battery to one end of the resistor.
3. Connect the other end of the resistor to the positive terminal of the capacitor.
4. Attach the negative terminal of the capacitor to the positive terminal of the
LED.
5. Finally, connect the negative terminal of the LED to the negative terminal of the
battery.

Charging Phase:

 Switch on the circuit to allow the capacitor to charge.

 Observe the LED gradually lighting up as the capacitor charges.

Discharging Phase:

 Disconnect the battery from the circuit.

 Connect the capacitor terminals directly to the LED via the resistor.
 Observe the LED slowly dimming as the capacitor discharges.

Record observations:

 During charging, note how the LED takes some time to reach full brightness.
 During discharging, note how the LED dims gradually until it completely turns
off.
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OBSERVATION :

 During charging:
"The LED takes approximately 1 second to reach full brightness, depending on
the time constant (τ=RC)."

 During discharging:
"The LED dims out gradually, showing how the capacitor releases its stored
energy over time."

Data Table Example:

Time (s) LED Brightness (Observed) Voltage Across Capacitor (V)

0 Bright (fully on) Max voltage (initial)

0.1 Slightly dim V1

0.2 Dimmer V2

0.3 Very dim V3

1 Off (completely dim) Close to 0V

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CONCLUSION:
The experiment successfully demonstrated the
charging and discharging of a capacitor using a
simple LED circuit. The LED's brightness
qualitatively shows the energy storage and release,
validating the capacitor's behavior.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
The list of websites and books which are referred during
the development of this project are-

WEBSITES :
 www.wikipedia.com

 www.chatgpt.com
 www.youtube.com
 www.vedantu.com
 www.unacademy.com
 www.webassign.net

BOOKS :

 N.C.E.R.T Physics part - 1 class 12