A capacitor is a device that stores electrical charge. The charge on a capacitor accumulates according to
Question:
A capacitor is a device that stores electrical charge. The charge on a capacitor accumulates according to the function Q(t) = a(1 - e-t/c), where t is measured in seconds, and a and c > 0 are physical constants. The steady-state charge is the value that Q(t) approaches as t becomes large.
a. Graph the charge function for t ≥ 0 using a = 1 and c = 10. Find a graphing window that shows the full range of the function.
b. Vary the value of a while holding c fixed. Describe the effect on the curve. How does the steady-state charge vary with a?
c. Vary the value of c while holding a fixed. Describe the effect on the curve. How does the steady-state charge vary with c?
d. Find a formula that gives the steady-state charge in terms of a and c.
Step by Step Answer:
Calculus Early Transcendentals
ISBN: 978-0321947345
2nd edition
Authors: William L. Briggs, Lyle Cochran, Bernard Gillett