Capacitor Charge & Discharge Calculator
Calculate the voltage across a capacitor during its charging or discharging phase in a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit using exponential equations.
What this calculator is doing
This calculator models the voltage across a capacitor at a given time in an RC circuit for both charging and
discharging scenarios.
Charging Equation:
\[
V(t) = V_{\text{source}} \cdot \left(1 - e^{-t / (RC)}\right)
\]
Discharging Equation:
\[
V(t) = V_0 \cdot e^{-t / (RC)}
\]
Where:
- \( V(t) \) is the voltage across the capacitor at time \( t \)
- \( V_{\text{source}} \) is the source voltage (for charging)
- \( V_0 \) is the initial capacitor voltage (for discharging)
- \( R \) is resistance in ohms (Ω)
- \( C \) is capacitance in farads (F)
- \( t \) is time in seconds (s)
This allows engineers to quickly estimate how fast a capacitor will charge or discharge in an RC timing circuit.
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Disclaimer: These calculators are provided for informational purposes only. Always verify your designs against relevant engineering standards and consult a qualified professional. We do not take responsibility for any errors or damages resulting from the use of these calculations.