I’ve set up a virtual lab for you to investigate how a capacitor charges and discharges.

1. Download this file : Capacitor
2. Open the AC&DC circuit construction kit here
3. Load the capacitor file. It will display a capacitor circuit.
4. Add the voltage chart with the connections across the capacitor [red to the left, black to the right]
5. Add the current chart with the connection beside the red V connector.
6. The capacitor charges through the top loop [and switch]
7. It discharges through the bottom loop.
8. You can investigate the following
   1. Change the supply voltage Vs [initial 10V]
   2. Change the capacitance [initial 0.1F]
   3. Change the charge resistance [initial 10 ohm]
   4. Change the discharge resistance [initial 5 ohm]
9. You could also use the built in stopwatch to investigate the time constant