ECE 10, Winter 2022, Homework #1, Due January 18, 2022, 11:59pm PST

Problem 1: The current (in Amperes) in a circuit varies in time as

 1 −3t
 e , t 3
i(t ) =  2 .

 0, t 3
What is the total charge that passes through the circuit, over all time, in Coulombs? (5 points)

Problem 2: A 2.5F capacitor, charged to –10 Volts is connected across

t=0
a 4 Ohm resistor at time t = 0, by closing a switch, as shown in Figure +
Q(t)+++ +++
+
i(t)

C v (t) v (t) R
1. The current in the circuit is shown to be of the form -Q(t)
–
-------
C R

 −
t

i (t ) =  −2.5e 10
, t  0. Figure 1
 0, t0
At a certain time, t = t0, the current has a value -1.85 Amperes. The switch behaves like a wire of
zero resistance when closed. At t = t0,
(a) at what rate is the voltage across the capacitor, vC(t) changing? Don’t forget the correct units.
(b) what is the voltage across the resistor, vR(t)?
(c) what is the value of the charge on the capacitor, Q(t)?
(3 + 2 + 3 = 8 points)

Problem 3: A parallel plate capacitor is connected to a 2V battery. Suppose that the plates of the
capacitor are slowly moved in time such that the capacitance varies linearly from C = 2pF to C =
8pF in 8 seconds.
(a) Sketch the current coming from the positive terminal of the battery and flowing into the ca-
pacitor as a function of time while the plates were being moved.
(b) How much energy was stored in the capacitor before the plates started to move?
(c) How much energy is stored in the capacitor after the plates have finished their movement?
(d) How much total energy was delivered to the capacitor during the 8 seconds of movement?
(e) How much energy was delivered by the 2V battery during the 8 seconds of movement?
(f) Do your answers to (e) and (f) indicate that energy is conserved? Explain.
(3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3= 18 points)

Problem 4: Consider a simple circuit where a 5V battery is connected in series with a switch and
a lamp whose filament represents a resistance of 10 Ohm. The switch is located right next to the
battery physically, but the lamp is located 3000 km away. Assume that the switch and the wires
are all ideal (have no resistance). If the switch is closed at time t = 0, at what time does the lamp
turn ON? Assume that the lamp turns ON immediately after energy is delivered to it. Give clear
technical answers. Limit your answers to under half a page.
Hint: Energy propagation and the Poynting vector.
Note: This question was partially discussed in class: I discussed both the speed of propagation of
electromagnetic fields (speed of light in the medium, assume c = 3x108m/s) and the net drift rate
of electrons in the wire (assume 10mm/s).
(5 points)
Problem 5: Starting at time t = 0, a battery is applied across an inductor of 3H. The battery volt-
age increases linearly from 0 to 5V in time 10s after which, it stays at 5V.
(a) Derive an expression for the current through the inductor as a function of time t.
(b) Derive an expression for the energy delivered to the inductor as a function of time t.
(8 points)

Problem 6: Figure 2 shows a common, realistic model for a

battery. The resistance, RS, is often referred to as the source a
I
resistance. Derive an expression for the voltage across the +
battery’s terminals, Vab as a function of the current flowing RS

through it, I. VB Vab

(6 points) –
Solution: b
I

Model of a real battery

Figure 2