In a series RC circuit, what is the time constant (τ) defined as?
Practice Questions
Q1
In a series RC circuit, what is the time constant (τ) defined as?
τ = R * C
τ = R / C
τ = C / R
τ = R + C
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a series RC circuit, what is the time constant (τ) defined as?
Step 1: Understand that a series RC circuit consists of a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C) connected in a single loop.
Step 2: Know that the time constant (τ) is a measure of how quickly the capacitor charges or discharges in the circuit.
Step 3: Learn the formula for the time constant, which is τ = R * C.
Step 4: Identify that R is the resistance measured in ohms (Ω) and C is the capacitance measured in farads (F).
Step 5: Realize that the time constant τ is measured in seconds (s) and indicates the time it takes for the voltage across the capacitor to reach about 63.2% of its maximum value when charging.
