Electrostatic Potential & Capacitance
Class 12 · Electrostatic Potential & Capacitance

RC Charging

q(t) = CV(1 − e^(−t/τ)). Watch the curve build with τ marked.

Key Notes

01

Charging through R: q(t) = CV(1 − e^(−t/τ)), τ = RC.

02

At t = τ: 63% of final charge. At 5τ: ≈ 99%.

03

Current decays as I = (V/R)e^(−t/τ).

Formulas

q(t)

τ = RC.

I(t)

Decreasing exponential.

Important Points

Larger R or larger C → slower charging.

Time constant τ has units of seconds (Ω · F = s).

RC Charging notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 12 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.