1. What is a Capacitor Impedance Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the impedance of a capacitor at a given frequency using the fundamental capacitive reactance formula.

Purpose: It helps electronics engineers, students, and hobbyists determine how a capacitor will behave in AC circuits.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Z \) — Complex impedance (ohms)
• \( f \) — Frequency (Hz)
• \( C \) — Capacitance (farads)
• \( j \) — Imaginary unit (√-1)
• \( \pi \) — Pi (~3.14159)

Explanation: The calculator displays the magnitude of the impedance (the 1/2πfC part), ignoring the imaginary component for simplicity.

3. Importance of Capacitor Impedance

Details: Understanding capacitor impedance is crucial for designing filters, timing circuits, power supplies, and signal processing applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the frequency in Hz and capacitance in farads (1μF = 0.000001F). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does impedance decrease with frequency?
A: Capacitors conduct better at higher frequencies, so their opposition to current (impedance) decreases.

Q2: What's the difference between impedance and reactance?
A: Reactance is the imaginary part of impedance. For pure capacitors, impedance equals reactance.

Q3: How do I convert between μF, nF, and pF?
A: 1F = 1,000,000μF, 1μF = 1,000nF, 1nF = 1,000pF.

Q4: Why is the result negative in the formula?
A: The negative sign (from 1/j) indicates the current leads voltage by 90° in capacitors.

Q5: What about real capacitors with ESR?
A: This calculator shows ideal impedance. Real capacitors have equivalent series resistance (ESR) too.