1. What is Capacitor Impedance?

Definition: Capacitor impedance (Z) is the opposition a capacitor offers to alternating current (AC), combining both resistance and reactance.

Purpose: Understanding capacitor impedance is crucial for designing AC circuits, filters, and signal processing applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The calculator shows the magnitude of the impedance (ignoring phase information for simplicity).

3. Importance of Capacitor Impedance

Details: Capacitor impedance determines how capacitors behave in AC circuits, affecting signal filtering, power factor correction, and frequency response.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the frequency in Hz and capacitance in farads (1 μF = 0.000001 F). The calculator will determine the impedance magnitude in ohms.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does impedance decrease with frequency?
A: Capacitors conduct better at higher frequencies because the charge/discharge cycle happens faster, resulting in lower opposition to current.

Q2: What's the difference between impedance and reactance?
A: Reactance is the imaginary part of impedance. For a pure capacitor, impedance equals reactance (Z = -jXc).

Q3: How do I calculate for multiple capacitors?
A: For series: sum impedances. For parallel: use reciprocal formula (1/Ztotal = 1/Z1 + 1/Z2 + ...).

Q4: Why is the result negative in the formula?
A: The negative sign indicates the current leads voltage by 90° in a capacitor, but we display magnitude only.

Q5: What's a typical capacitor impedance range?
A: Varies widely - from ohms in power circuits to megaohms in small signal applications, depending on frequency and capacitance.