Finding charge as a function of time

In summary, the conversation discusses a series electric circuit with resistance, capacitance, and a time-dependent electromotive force. The charge on the capacitor can be found using the equation R dq/dt + q/C = V(t), assuming an initial charge of zero and V(t) = V0 sin ωt. The second part involves rearranging and integrating to find the charge as a function of time, where the solutions include both a homogeneous and non-homogeneous form. The final solution is more complicated and requires additional steps.
  • #1
P-Jay1
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1- A series electric circuit contains a resistance R, capacitance C and power source
supplying a time-dependent electromotive force V (t). The charge q on the capacitor obeys

R dq/dt + q/C = V (t)

Assuming that initially, at time t = 0, there is no charge on the capacitor, and given that
V (t) = V0 sin ωt, find the charge on the capacitor as a function of time.


2- Hey, so I want to know if I'm doing this right.

I rearranged and substituted V (t) = V0 sin ωt to get: dq/dt = VoSinωt/R - q/RC

Next I move dt to the right hand side of the equation and integrated to get:

q(t) = - VoCosωt/ωR - qt/RC + const.

For q as a function of t is this the right answer?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Ok so after lots of algebra and rearranging I found the solution.

You need to treat this as an ODE and not just a simple integration problem.

Solving the homogeneous form of the equation:

[tex] Rq' + \frac{q}{C} = 0 [/tex]

yields

[tex] q(t) = De^{-t/RC} [/tex]

There is also the non-homogeneous solution which can be solved a few different ways, I did it using an integrating factor followed by lots of integration by parts and some rearranging. I'm not going to write it all out here, but to get you started you have:

[tex] \frac{dq}{dt} + \frac{q}{RC} = \frac{V_{o}}{R}sin({\omega}t) [/tex]

let [itex] {\mu} = e^{t/RC} [/itex]

[tex] \frac{d}{dt}(qe^{t/RC}) = e^{t/RC} \frac{V_{o}}{R}sin({\omega}t) [/tex]

I'm not going to give you the final solution but it's much more complicated than what you initially have. If you post your work I will help you through it.
 
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FAQ: Finding charge as a function of time

What is the equation for finding charge as a function of time?

The equation for finding charge as a function of time is q(t) = q0 + i(t-t0), where q0 is the initial charge, i is the current, and t0 is the initial time.

How do you calculate the current in a circuit?

The current in a circuit can be calculated by dividing the change in charge by the change in time. This can be expressed as i = Δq/Δt.

What factors can affect the charge as a function of time?

The charge as a function of time can be affected by various factors such as the resistance of the circuit, the voltage, and the capacitance. Other factors such as temperature and humidity can also have an indirect effect on the charge as they can alter the properties of the materials in the circuit.

Can the charge as a function of time be negative?

Yes, the charge as a function of time can be negative. This can occur in situations where the circuit has a capacitive reactance, which causes the current to be out of phase with the voltage. In these cases, the charge can decrease over time, resulting in a negative charge value.

How can the charge as a function of time be graphically represented?

The charge as a function of time can be graphically represented on an x-y graph with charge on the y-axis and time on the x-axis. The resulting curve will depend on the specific circuit and its components, but it will typically show an increase in charge over time as the current flows through the circuit.

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