Capacitance Calculator

Calculate capacitance, charge storage, and voltage in capacitive circuits. Analyze series and parallel combinations for electronic circuit design applications.

About Capacitance Calculator

Historical Background

The principle of capacitance was first discovered by Ewald Georg von Kleist in 1745 and independently by Pieter van Musschenbroek in 1746 with the Leyden jar. Modern capacitor theory was developed through the work of Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell in the 19th century.

Mathematical Foundation

Formula	Description
Q = C × V	Basic charge equation
C = ε₀εᵣA/d	Parallel plate capacitance
E = ½CV²	Energy stored
τ = RC	Time constant

Key Variables:

Q = Charge (coulombs)
C = Capacitance (farads)
V = Voltage (volts)
ε₀ = Vacuum permittivity
εᵣ = Relative permittivity
A = Plate area
d = Plate separation
E = Energy stored
τ = Time constant
R = Series resistance

Types of Capacitors

Ceramic Capacitors

Range: 1pF - 1μF
Low ESR
High stability
Temperature sensitive

Film Capacitors

Range: 100pF - 10μF
Self-healing
Low losses
Good stability

Electrolytic

Range: 0.1μF - 100,000μF
High capacitance
Polarized
Limited lifespan

Supercapacitors

Range: 1F - 3000F
High energy density
Rapid charging
Long cycle life

Circuit Applications

Power Applications

Energy storage
Power smoothing
Voltage regulation
Backup power

Signal Processing

AC coupling
Filtering
Timing circuits
Oscillators

Operating Parameters

Voltage Ratings

Working voltage
Surge voltage
Breakdown voltage
Safety margins

Temperature Effects

Capacitance drift
ESR changes
Lifetime impact
Derating needs

Configuration Methods

Series Connection

1/Cₜ = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂
Higher voltage rating
Lower total capacitance
Voltage balancing needed

Parallel Connection

Cₜ = C₁ + C₂
Higher capacitance
Same voltage rating
Current sharing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is capacitance?

Capacitance is a measure of a component's ability to store electric charge. It is measured in farads (F) and represents how much electric charge can be stored for a given voltage. The larger the capacitance, the more charge can be stored at a given voltage.

What factors affect capacitance?

Several factors influence capacitance: • Plate area (larger area = more capacitance) • Distance between plates (smaller distance = more capacitance) • Dielectric material type and thickness • Operating temperature • Operating frequency

What are common uses of capacitors?

Capacitors serve many purposes: • Energy storage and smoothing • AC coupling and DC blocking • Timing circuits • Power factor correction • Filtering and noise suppression • Tuning circuits

How do capacitors affect AC circuits?

In AC circuits, capacitors: • Create impedance inversely proportional to frequency • Cause current to lead voltage by 90° • Store energy in electric fields • Can resonate with inductors • Block DC while passing AC

Learn More

Capacitors Capacitance Supercapacitors