1. What is Reactance?

Reactance is the opposition to alternating current (AC) presented by capacitors (capacitive reactance) and inductors (inductive reactance). Unlike resistance, reactance depends on the frequency of the AC signal.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these fundamental equations:

Where:

• \( X_c \) — Capacitive reactance (Ω)
• \( X_l \) — Inductive reactance (Ω)
• \( \omega \) — Angular frequency (rad/s)
• \( C \) — Capacitance (F)
• \( L \) — Inductance (H)

Explanation: Capacitive reactance decreases with increasing frequency, while inductive reactance increases with frequency.

3. Importance of Reactance Calculation

Details: Reactance calculations are essential for designing AC circuits, filters, impedance matching, and understanding phase relationships in electrical systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter angular frequency in rad/s (ω = 2πf where f is frequency in Hz). You can calculate either reactance by leaving the other component (C or L) at zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between reactance and impedance?
A: Reactance is the imaginary part of impedance. Impedance combines resistance and reactance (Z = R + jX).

Q2: Why does capacitive reactance decrease with frequency?
A: At higher frequencies, capacitors have less time to charge/discharge, effectively offering less opposition to current.

Q3: What happens at resonance?
A: When X_c = X_l, they cancel out, leaving only resistance in the circuit.

Q4: Can reactance be negative?
A: Capacitive reactance is often considered negative in phasor analysis to distinguish it from inductive reactance.

Q5: What are typical units for these calculations?
A: Farads for capacitance, Henries for inductance, ohms for reactance, and radians/second for angular frequency.