Problem 5.

33 After having been in position 1 for a long time, the switch in the
circuit of Fig. P5.33 was moved to position 2 at t = 0. Given that V
0
= 12 V,
R
1
= 30 k, R
2
= 120 k, R
3
= 60 k, and C = 100 F, determine:
(a) i
C
(0

) and
C
(0

)
(b) i
C
(0) and
C
(0)
(c) i
C
() and
C
()
(d)
C
(t) for t 0
(e) i
C
(t) for t 0
R
1
R
2

C
i
C
C
i
1
V
0
R
3
1
2
+
_
Figure P5.33: Circuit for Problem 5.33.
Solution: (a) Since the capacitor had access to resistors R
2
and R
3
prior to t = 0, it
has dissipated any charge it may have had, long before t = 0. Hence,
i
C
(0

) =
C
(0

) = 0.
(b) At t = 0, the capacitor acts like a short circuit (because its voltage cannot change
instantaneously). Since the voltage across R
3
is zero, no current ows through it.
Hence,
i
1
(0) =
V
0
R
1
=
12
30k
= 0.4 mA.

C
(0) =
C
(0

) = 0.
At t = 0
R
1

C
(0) = 0
C
i
1
(0)
i
C
(0)
V
0
R
3
2
+
_
i
R
3
= 0
(c) At t =, capacitor acts like an open circuit.
At t = 8
R
1
v
C
( )
C
i
1
V
0
R
3
2
+
_
8
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Hence,
i
C
() = 0

C
() =
V
0
R
3
R
1
+R
3
=
1260
30+60
= 8 V.
(d)

C
(t) =
C
() +(
C
(0)
C
())e
t/
= 8+(08)e
t/
= 8(1e
t/
) (V), for t 0,
where
=

R
1
R
3
R
1
+R
3

C =
3060
30+60
10
3
10
4
= 2 s.
(e)
i
C
(t) =C
d
C
dt
= 10
4
d
dt
[8(1e
0.5t
)]
= 0.4e
0.5t
(mA) for t 0.
All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or distribute. c 2013 National Technology and Science Press