Advanced Qualification · A-001 Advanced theory · A-001-001-004
What is the term for the time it takes for a charged capacitor in an RC circuit to discharge to 36.8% of its initial value of stored charge?
- A One discharge period
- B One time constant
- C A discharge factor of one
- D An exponential discharge of one
Correct answer: B — One time constant. From the official ISED question bank, verified word for word.
Why
In an RC circuit, the time it takes for a capacitor to lose about 63.2% of its charge, leaving 36.8% behind, is defined as one time constant. The full explanation — and one for every question — is in Pro.
Practise this section
Advanced theory: time constants, reactance, impedance, resonance, Q, and the mathematics behind tuned circuits.