ScienceFreePrintable

RC Circuit Fundamentals

A free science worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

RC Circuit Fundamentals worksheet preview
Name:Date:

RC Circuit Fundamentals

You are testing a simple series RC circuit. Use the written information and data in this worksheet. Show working for calculations and include units in your answers.

Build the model

Answer Questions 1–3 using the written information in this worksheet. No circuit schematic is needed.

1.When the switch is closed, which statement best describes the capacitor during charging?
  • It stores energy in the electric field between its plates.
  • It creates charge from the supply.
  • It keeps the current constant throughout charging.
  • It converts all supplied energy into sound.
2.Complete the relationship for the time constant of a series RC circuit: τ = . State the SI unit of τ.
3.Explain why the current is greatest just after the switch is closed and then decreases as the capacitor charges.

Calculate and predict

A student uses a 12.0 V supply, a 47 kΩ resistor and a 220 μF capacitor. Assume an ideal circuit unless stated otherwise.

4.Calculate the circuit time constant τ. Convert the component values to SI units before substituting, and give your answer to two significant figures.
5.For this circuit, calculate the initial current immediately after the switch is closed. Assume the capacitor is initially uncharged.
6.After one time constant, what percentage of its final charge has the capacitor gained? What percentage of the supply voltage is then across the resistor?
7.Calculate the capacitor's potential difference after one time constant in the 12.0 V circuit. Give your answer to two significant figures.
8.The student doubles the resistance but keeps the capacitance and supply voltage unchanged. State how the time constant and initial current change.
9.A classmate says, “After one time constant, the capacitor is fully charged.” Evaluate this statement using the charging behaviour of an RC circuit.

Check the evidence

The student records the capacitor voltage while charging from a 12.0 V supply.

Time after closing switch (s)

Capacitor voltage (V)

0

0.0

5

4.7

10

7.6

20

10.3

10.The supply is 12.0 V. Use the measurements to estimate the time constant, explaining which reading gives the clearest estimate. Comment on whether the readings are consistent with the predicted time constant from Question 4.

3 printable pages

  • RC Circuit Fundamentals, page 1 of 3: Build the model, Calculate and predict

    Page 1

  • RC Circuit Fundamentals, page 2 of 3: Check the evidence

    Page 2

  • RC Circuit Fundamentals, page 3 of 3: 10 7.6

    Page 3

About This Worksheet

Free in Kuraplan

Sign up free, grab the PDF, and customize it for your class.

Print-Ready

Formatted for standard paper. Clean layout, easy to read.

AI-Generated

Created with Kuraplan's AI, designed for real classroom use.

For Teachers & Parents

Use in classrooms, for homework, tutoring, or homeschool.

Need a custom version of this worksheet?

Kuraplan's AI generates custom worksheets in seconds — differentiated for every learner, aligned to your curriculum.

Generate Custom Worksheets — Free
No credit card Curriculum-aligned Under 60 seconds