Question

Which of the following formulas is used to calculate the time constant (TC) of an RC circuit, where R represents resistance and C represents capacitance?

Option 1: TC = R / C
Option 2: TC = R + C
Option 3: TC = R * C
Option 4: TC = R - C

Answer 1

The time constant (TC) of an RC circuit is calculated using the formula TC = R * C, which directly relates the resistance and capacitance in the circuit.

Step-by-step explanation:

The formula used to calculate the time constant (TC) of an RC circuit, where R represents resistance and C represents capacitance, is TC = R * C. This relationship indicates that a small resistance allows the capacitor to charge faster, due to a larger current flowing through a smaller resistance. Similarly, a smaller capacitor requires less time to charge fully. Thus, the time constant of an RC circuit is directly proportional to both the resistance (R) and the capacitance (C).