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three identical resistors, a capacitor, two switches and a potential source. In

ID: 1284524 • Letter: T

Question

three identical resistors, a capacitor, two switches and a potential source. In your initial configuration, switch one, S1, is closed, while switch two, S2, is open. You wait a bit and at time t = RC, you open S1 and close S2. How much energy is dissipated by the rightmost resistor (the resistor closest to S2)?

three identical resistors, a capacitor, two switches and a potential source. In your initial configuration, switch one, S1, is closed, while switch two, S2, is open. You wait a bit and at time t = RC, you open S1 and close S2. How much energy is dissipated by the rightmost resistor (the resistor closest to S2)?

Explanation / Answer

time constant for the left circuit(when S2 is closed) = (R+R)*C = 2RC

so potential on C after time RC = V*(e-t/2RC) = V*(e-RC/2RC)

= V*(e-1/2)

= .6065V

so power stored in capacitor = .5*C*V2 = power dissipated by rightmost R

= .5*C*.3678*V2

= .184CV2 Watt