Question

1. Explain your choices in words.

   A) Would adding another capacitor in series to an RC circuit increase, decrease, or not change its time constant?
2. B) Would adding another capacitor in parallel to an RC circuit increase, decrease, or not change its time constant?
3. C) Would hooking an RC circuit up to a battery with twice as much voltage increase, decrease, or not change its time constant?
4. D)Would adding a stronger dielectric to the capacitor in a charging RC circuit increase, decrease, or not change its time constant?

Answer 1

Time constant=RC

A)

Adding capacitor in series reduce the value of equivalent capacitance

So time constant will decrease

B)

Adding capacitor parallel to another capacitor increases the value of equivalent capacitance

So time constant will increase

C)

Time constant depends on capacitance and resistance

So changing the voltage of battery will not change time constant

D)

Adding stronger dilectric to capacitor increases the value of capacitance

So time constant will increase