Consider the situation shown in figure. The switch is closed at t = 0 when the capacitors are uncharged. Find the charge on the capacitor C1 as a function of time t.
Concepts/Formulas used:
Kirchhoff’s loop rule:
The sum of potential differences around a closed loop is zero.
Capacitance:
If two conductors have a potential difference V between the them and have charges Q and -Q respectively on them, then their capacitance is defined as
Capacitors in series:
If capacitors C1, C2, C3 , … are in series, then the equivalent capacitance is given by:
We can replace C1 and C2 by Ceq. As C1 ans C2 are in series,
Let us drop the subscript and call Ceq just C.
Let the potential across the capacitor C be at time t be Vc. Let the charge at time t be q.
Note that as C1 and C2 are in series,
Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule ,
We know that
Where B is a constant
Let
Substitute q = 0 at t = 0,
Substituting the value of A back,
where