Question 13 Marks
A capacitance C charged to a potential difference V is discharged by connecting its plates through a resistance R. Find the heat dissipated in one time constant after the connections are made. Do this by calculating $\int\text{i}^2\text{R}$ dt and also by finding the decrease in the energy stored in the capacitor.
Answer
View full question & answer→Energy stored at a part time in discharging $=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2\Big(\text{e}^{\frac{-\text{t}}{\text{RC}}}\Big)^2$
Heat dissipated at any time = (Energy stored at t = 0) - (Energy stored at time t)
$=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2-\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2\big(-\text{e}^{-1}\big)^2$ $=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2\big(1-\text{e}^2\big)$
Heat dissipated at any time = (Energy stored at t = 0) - (Energy stored at time t)
$=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2-\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2\big(-\text{e}^{-1}\big)^2$ $=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2\big(1-\text{e}^2\big)$



$\text{R}_\text{eff}=\frac{\text{r}}{3}+\text{r}=\frac{4\text{r}}{3}$
$\text{R}_\text{eff}=\frac{2\text{r}}{2}=\text{r}$
$\text{R}_\text{eff}=\frac{\text{r}}{4}$
$\text{R}_\text{eff}=\text{r}$



