1. What is Capacitive Reactance?

Capacitive reactance (X_c) is the opposition that a capacitor offers to alternating current due to its capacitance. It is measured in ohms (Ω) and decreases with increasing frequency and capacitance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the capacitive reactance formula:

Where:

• \( X_c \) — Capacitive reactance (Ω)
• \( \omega \) — Angular frequency (rad/s)
• \( C \) — Capacitance (F)

Explanation: The reactance is inversely proportional to both the frequency and the capacitance. Higher frequencies or larger capacitances result in lower reactance.

3. Importance of Capacitive Reactance

Details: Capacitive reactance is crucial in AC circuit analysis, filter design, impedance matching, and determining phase relationships between voltage and current in capacitive circuits.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter angular frequency in radians per second and capacitance in farads. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is angular frequency related to regular frequency?
A: Angular frequency (ω) = 2π × frequency (f). For 60 Hz, ω ≈ 377 rad/s.

Q2: What are typical capacitive reactance values?
A: Values vary widely. For example, a 1μF capacitor at 1kHz has X_c ≈ 160Ω.

Q3: Why does reactance decrease with frequency?
A: At higher frequencies, the capacitor has less time to charge/discharge, effectively offering less opposition to current.

Q4: How does reactance affect phase in AC circuits?
A: In pure capacitive circuits, current leads voltage by 90°.

Q5: What's the difference between reactance and impedance?
A: Reactance is the imaginary part of impedance (Z = R + jX). For pure capacitors, impedance equals reactance.