1. What is Capacitance?

Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store electrical charge per unit voltage. It is measured in farads (F) and represents the ratio of electric charge to electric potential difference.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fundamental capacitance formula:

Where:

• \( C \) — Capacitance in farads (F)
• \( Q \) — Electric charge in coulombs (C)
• \( V \) — Voltage in volts (V)

Explanation: This formula defines capacitance as the amount of charge stored per unit voltage applied across the capacitor.

3. Importance of Capacitance Calculation

Details: Calculating capacitance is essential for designing electronic circuits, selecting appropriate capacitors for filtering, timing, energy storage, and power supply applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter charge in coulombs and voltage in volts. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a farad?
A: A farad is the SI unit of capacitance, defined as one coulomb of charge stored per one volt of potential difference.

Q2: What are typical capacitance values?
A: Capacitors range from picofarads (pF) to farads (F), with most common values in microfarads (μF) range for electronic circuits.

Q3: How does capacitance relate to energy storage?
A: The energy stored in a capacitor is given by \( E = \frac{1}{2}CV^2 \), showing that both capacitance and voltage affect energy storage capacity.

Q4: What factors affect capacitance in practical capacitors?
A: Physical factors include plate area, distance between plates, and dielectric material properties between the plates.

Q5: Can capacitance be negative?
A: No, capacitance is always a positive quantity as it represents the ability to store charge.