Question

Use principles of physics to solve the problem and then verify your answer using the simulation.

(a) What is the voltage of the battery in this simulation?
V
(b) When the simulation is first loaded the time constant is 8.0 seconds. What happens in this time? Select all the statements below that apply. Take V₀ to be the battery voltage.
If the capacitor starts off completely discharged, the time constant is the time required to fully charge the capacitor once the "Charge" button is pressed.
If the capacitor starts off completely discharged, the time constant is the time required for the capacitor voltage to reach a value of V₀/e once the "Charge" button is pressed.
If the capacitor starts off fully charged, the time constant is the time required to completely discharge the capacitor once the "Discharge" button is pressed.
If the capacitor starts off fully charged, the time constant is the time required to for the capacitor voltage to reach a value of V₀/e once the "Discharge" button is pressed.
The time constant is the time required for the magnitude of the current in the circuit to fall to zero once either the "Charge" or "Discharge" button is pressed.
The time constant is the time required for the current in the circuit to fall to a fraction of 1/e of the value it has immediately after the "Charge" or "Discharge" button is pressed.


(c) Given the limits on the sliders in the simulation, what are the maximum and minimum possible values of the time constant in this simulation?

(i) maximum possible time constant
s

(ii) minimum possible time constant
s

Answer 1

a. Since the simulation details are not given, the battery voltage cannot be found out.

b. Correct options are

(iv) If the capacitor starts off fully charged, the time constant is the time required to for the capacitor voltage to reach a value of V0/e once the "Discharge" button is pressed.

(vi) The time constant is the time required for the current in the circuit to fall to a fraction of 1/e of the value it has immediately after the "Charge" or "Discharge" button is pressed.

c. Since the simulation details are not given, maximum and minimum values of time constant cannot be found out.