In an RC circuit, what is the time constant (τ) defined as?
Practice Questions
Q1
In an RC circuit, what is the time constant (τ) defined as?
τ = R*C
τ = R+C
τ = R/C
τ = C/R
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In an RC circuit, what is the time constant (τ) defined as?
Step 1: Understand what an RC circuit is. An RC circuit is a circuit that contains a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C).
Step 2: Know what resistance (R) is. Resistance is a measure of how much a component resists the flow of electric current.
Step 3: Know what capacitance (C) is. Capacitance is a measure of how much electric charge a capacitor can store.
Step 4: Learn about the time constant (τ). The time constant is a value that helps us understand how quickly the capacitor charges or discharges in the circuit.
Step 5: Remember the formula for the time constant. The time constant τ is calculated using the formula τ = R * C.
Step 6: Identify the units. Resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω) and capacitance (C) is measured in farads (F).
Step 7: Understand the significance of τ. A larger τ means the capacitor takes longer to charge or discharge, while a smaller τ means it charges or discharges faster.
