When Does a Capacitor Charge Linearly?

In summary, a capacitor increases in charge linearly when it is being directly charged by a battery and there is no resistance in the circuit. However, in practical scenarios, there will always be some resistance, resulting in a non-linear plot of charge against time. If the voltage also changes over time, the plot of voltage against time would be non-linear if the plot of charge against time is linear.
  • #1
anonymousphys
29
0

Homework Statement


When a does a capacitor increase in charge linearly?


Homework Equations


C=Q/V


The Attempt at a Solution


If I am correct, it is when the capacitor is being directly charged by a battery. When there is a resistor, we get an RC circuit scenario where capacitor charges exponentially.
 
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  • #2
Linearly with respect to what? time? Can V change too?

If an ideal resistor were charged with an ideal (no internal resistance) battery, the plot of charge against time would not be linear but would look like a step, from what I understand.

But of course in practice this is impossible, since there will always be some measure of resistance in the circuit. Does this help clear things up?

Here's an interesting question: If V were to change over time, how would the plot of V against time look if the plot of Q against time was linear? (I think maybe this was what you were meant to work out).
 

Related to When Does a Capacitor Charge Linearly?

1. How do capacitors charge linearly?

Capacitors charge linearly when a constant current is applied to them. This means that the voltage across the capacitor increases at a constant rate until it reaches the maximum voltage it can hold.

2. What is a linear charging circuit?

A linear charging circuit is a circuit where the voltage across the capacitor increases at a constant rate, resulting in a linear charging curve. This is achieved by using a constant current source to charge the capacitor.

3. What is the equation for linear capacitor charging?

The equation for linear capacitor charging is V = V0(1 - e^(-t/RC)), where V is the voltage across the capacitor at time t, V0 is the maximum voltage the capacitor can hold, R is the resistance in the circuit, and C is the capacitance of the capacitor.

4. How long does it take for a capacitor to charge linearly?

The time it takes for a capacitor to charge linearly depends on the capacitance and the resistance in the circuit. It can be calculated using the equation t = RC, where t is the time it takes to charge the capacitor, R is the resistance, and C is the capacitance.

5. What is the purpose of using linear capacitor charging?

The purpose of using linear capacitor charging is to achieve a constant and predictable voltage across the capacitor. This is useful in many electronic circuits where a steady voltage is required, such as in power supplies and timing circuits.

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