Scribd
Upload
134 views5 pages

Measuring RC Circuit Time Constant

The document describes an experiment to measure the time constant of an RC circuit using a digital oscilloscope. It involves setting up an RC circuit with a resistor around 500 ohms and capacitor around 30 microfarads. A function generator is used to charge and discharge the capacitor, which is monitored using two channels on an oscilloscope. The time constant is measured from the charging and discharging curves on the oscilloscope based on the voltage levels predicted by the equations. The measured and predicted time constants are compared to calculate the percentage difference.

Uploaded by

Lucas Casagrande
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
134 views5 pages

Measuring RC Circuit Time Constant

The document describes an experiment to measure the time constant of an RC circuit using a digital oscilloscope. It involves setting up an RC circuit with a resistor around 500 ohms and capacitor around 30 microfarads. A function generator is used to charge and discharge the capacitor, which is monitored using two channels on an oscilloscope. The time constant is measured from the charging and discharging curves on the oscilloscope based on the voltage levels predicted by the equations. The measured and predicted time constants are compared to calculate the percentage difference.

Uploaded by

Lucas Casagrande
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Measuring the time constant of an RC circuit using a digital Oscilloscope:

Objective:

The main objective of this lab is to understand the basic characteristics of an RC circuit and
measure the time constant of an RC circuit.

Theory:

Time constant of an RC circuit can be measured in two different ways using a digital oscilloscope.
The charging and the discharging curves of an RC circuit are shown is shown in the following
figure. The time constant theoretically given by τ = RC, is the time taken by the circuit to charge
the capacitor from 0 to 0.632 times of the maximum voltage. This can be derived from the
charging equation of an RC circuit given in equation 1.

In case of discharging, the time constant is the amount of time required to reduce the voltage
across the capacitor from the maximum value to 0.368 of the maximum value. This relation can
be derived from equation 2 by replacing t by τ.

Apparatus:

Resistor close to 500 Ω, capacitor close to 30 μF, digital oscilloscope, circuit board, function
generator, connecting wires and oscilloscope probes.
Procedures:

Warm up

1. Get a function generator and connect its output to the oscilloscope and display the output
as sinusoidal wave, square wave and triangular wave. Set the frequency at 100Hz and the
amplitude at 5V. Get snapshot of each wave and attach them with your report.

2. Practice to change the frequency and the amplitude of the generator output. Learn to
measure them from the oscilloscope. Get help from the instructor.
3. Make sure you are doing it correctly. Get help from the instructor.

RC Circuit:
Complete the RC circuit on the circuit board as shown in the following figure. Get help from the
instructor if required.

Connect the function generator output to channel 1 using a BNC Tee and the voltage across the
capacitor to channel 2. Set the output of the generator amplitude at 5V and the frequency at
60HZ.

Show your oscilloscope display to the instructor to make sure it is correct. Measure the time
constant from the charging and discharging curves. To measure the time constant precisely make
sure the corresponding curves fully cover the display screen as shown below.

Once the time constant is measured from both curves, next overlay the channel 1 and channel 2
curves on top of each other and take a snapshot. This snapshot also should go on your report.
Figure 1: Overlay of Channel 1 and Channel 2
Observations and Analysis:

Measured value of R = ……Ohm

Measured Capacitance = Farad

Predicted Time constant = S

Measured time constant 1 = …..S

Measured Time constant 2 =……..S

Measured time constant = Average of 1 and 2

Percentage difference between measured and predicted =

Discuss the charging and discharging of the capacitor on the basis of Figure 1.

Questions

As you know τ = RC is the time constant in an RC circuit. Using the equations in 1 or 2 find out
expressions for the times required to charge from to half of the maximum voltage or to
discharge from maximum voltage to the half voltage.

You might also like