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I am a beginner electronics hobbyist. I found this book called Basic Electronics for Scientists and Engineers and I am currently reading on RC circuits but got stuck trying to understand the equation.

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

The given schematic is as shown above and the equation obtained using KVL is

where Q is the charge and C is the Capacitance. (Eq 2.16)

Then it states that

We next take the derivative of Eq. (2.16) in order to remove Q in favor of the current I. Since V is constant for either switch position, we obtain for both cases

This is where I struggled to understand how the second equation is derived from the first equation and my weak calculus knowledge isn't helping either.

I understand that since current is changing and resistance is constant, we get but why did became and why did V became 0?

I would really appreciate it if I could get some clarification or guidance on how to understand this further because I really couldn't figure it out on my own. Thanks in advance.

Edwin
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    Differentiating `Q/C` gives `I/C` because `dQ/dt = I`. I feel it may help to review basic calculus and first order ordinary differential equations. – across Jan 01 '21 at 07:51
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    In other words , the definition of current is the rate of change in Q charge flow. – Tony Stewart EE75 Jan 01 '21 at 07:55
  • Wow that was quick. Ohh, I understand now. It's clear to me now. Felt a little bit silly for struggling with it. Thanks! – Edwin Jan 01 '21 at 08:14
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    If this book is spending a lot of time solving KVL and KCL problems, then you should get another book. Try: The Art of Electronics by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill. It is more important for a hobbyist to know what happens if you put a square wave into an RC (exponential voltage curve) or a sine wave into an RC (low pass filter). – Mattman944 Jan 01 '21 at 08:20
  • Yeah, I did felt that it contains a lot of KVL and KCL problems. I thought it's the basic in electronics because I always failed to design actual circuits with the correct values. I'll check out the book that you mentioned. Thanks. – Edwin Jan 01 '21 at 08:26
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    I don't know about book but even mathematically this method is not good because 1.Any differential equation depend on input and initial conditions so time at which instant switch is closed or opened and initial condition must be known at that time 2.do not assume V constant rather it should be V u(t) if switch is closed at t=0 – user215805 Jan 01 '21 at 08:56
  • Thanks. I'll keep that in mind as I study. I just got into the sine wave part for RC circuit and I roughly understand what you meant. – Edwin Jan 01 '21 at 15:34
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    @Edley Are you still interested in some discussion of the circuit and calculus? (I think I can make the calculus part pretty easy to gather -- I enjoy teaching it.) Or are you good, now? – jonk Jan 01 '21 at 20:40
  • @jonk Wow, thanks! But I'm good for now. Maybe I could discuss with you next time if I find another equation that I can't understand. – Edwin Jan 03 '21 at 12:51

1 Answers1

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  1. Since V is assumed constant, the derivative is 0
  2. Q=i*t
Mike McDermott
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