Solution for topic 5

τ = R th C
where R th is the Thevenin equivalent at the capacitor terminals.

R th = 120 || 80 + 12 = 60 Ω
τ = 60 × 0.5 × 10 -3 = 30 ms

Problem

(b) RTh = 20 //(5 + 25) + 8 = 20Ω, τ = RTh C = 20 x 0.3 = 6s

Example

The circuit in Fig. (a) is equivalent to the one shown in Fig. (b).

io 8Ω

+ + vo − + +
12 Ω 6Ω vx 1/3 F vc Req v 1/3 F

− − −
(a) (b)

R eq = 8 + 12 || 6 = 12 Ω
τ = R eq C = (12)(1 / 3) = 4 s
v c = v c (0) e - t τ = 30 e - t 4 = 30 e -0.25 t V

4
vx = v = 10 e -0.25t V
4+8 c

vx = vo + vc 
→ v o = v x − v c = -20 e -0.25t V

vo
io = = - 2.5 e -0.25t A
8
Example

When t < 0, the switch is closed as shown in Fig. (a).

6Ω

+
24 V + vc(0) 12 Ω 4Ω
−
−
(a)
3
R eq = 4 || 12 = 3 Ω v c (0) = (24) = 8 V
3+ 6

When t > 0, the switch is open as shown in Fig. (b).

6Ω t=0

24 V + 1/6 F 3Ω
−

(b)

τ = R eq C = (3)(1 / 6) = 1 / 2 s

v( t ) = v c (0) e - t τ = 8 e -2 t V

1 2 1 1
w c (0) = Cv c (0) = × × 64 = 5.333J
2 2 6

Problem

v( t ) = v(4) e -(t -4) τ

where v(4) = 24 , τ = RC = (20)(0.1) = 2
v( t ) = 24 e -(t - 4) 2

v(10) = 24 e -6 2 = 1.195 V
Tutorial

1.
v( t ) = v(0) e- t τ , τ = R eq C

R eq = 2 + 8 || 8 + 6 || 3 = 2 + 4 + 2 = 8 Ω

τ = R eq C = (0.25)(8) = 2

v( t ) = 20 e -t 2 V

2.

3.

(a) Before t = 0, v = 12 V .
After t = 0, v( t ) = v(∞) + [ v(0) − v(∞)] e - t τ
v(∞) = 4 , v(0) = 12 , τ = RC = (2)(3) = 6
v( t ) = 4 + (12 − 4) e -t 6

v( t ) = 4 + 8 e - t 6 V

(b) Before t = 0, v = 12 V .
After t = 0, v( t ) = v(∞) + [ v(0) − v(∞)] e - t τ
After transforming the current source, the circuit is shown below.
t=0

2Ω

4Ω
12 V + 5F
−

v(0) = 12 , v(∞) = 12 , τ = RC = (2)(5) = 10

v = 12 V