1. What is Charge on a Capacitor?

Definition: The charge (Q) stored on a capacitor is directly proportional to both its capacitance (C) and the voltage (V) applied across it.

Purpose: This calculator helps determine how much electric charge a capacitor can store given its specifications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fundamental capacitor formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Charge stored (coulombs)
• \( C \) — Capacitance (farads)
• \( V \) — Voltage across the capacitor (volts)

Explanation: The charge stored is simply the product of the capacitor's capacitance and the applied voltage.

3. Importance of Capacitor Charge Calculation

Details: Understanding charge storage is crucial for designing circuits, timing applications, power supply filtering, and energy storage systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the capacitance in farads (common subunits: µF = 10⁻⁶F, nF = 10⁻⁹F, pF = 10⁻¹²F) and the voltage in volts. Both values must be positive.

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 per volt.

Q2: How does charge relate to energy in a capacitor?
A: Energy stored is \( E = \frac{1}{2}CV^2 \) or \( E = \frac{Q^2}{2C} \), showing the relationship between charge and energy.

Q3: What happens if I exceed the capacitor's voltage rating?
A: The capacitor may fail catastrophically - always use capacitors rated for higher than your circuit's maximum voltage.

Q4: Why does my calculation show very small numbers?
A: Most practical capacitors are measured in microfarads (µF) or smaller, resulting in small charge values.

Q5: Does this work for AC voltage?
A: This calculates instantaneous charge. For AC, the charge constantly varies with the voltage.