16: RC and L/R Time Constants
This chapter explores the response of capacitors and inductors to sudden changes in DC voltage (called a transient voltage), when wired in series with a resistor. Unlike resistors, which respond instantaneously to applied voltage, capacitors and inductors react over time as they absorb and release energy.
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- 16.2: Capacitor Transient Response
- Because capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field, they tend to act like small secondary-cell batteries, being able to store and release electrical energy. A fully discharged capacitor maintains zero volts across its terminals, and a charged capacitor maintains a steady quantity of voltage across its terminals, just like a battery.
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- 16.8: Solving for Unknown Time
- Sometimes it is necessary to determine the length of time that a reactive circuit will take to reach a predetermined value. This is especially true in cases where we’re designing an RC or L/R circuit to perform a precise timing function. To calculate this, we need to modify our “Universal time constant formula.”