Capacitor Impedance Calculator
Calculate capacitive reactance, analyze frequency response, and understand ESR/ESL effects for optimal capacitor selection.
Interactive Capacitor Calculator
Enter capacitor value and frequency to calculate reactance and impedance
Circuit Diagram
Calculation Formula
XC = 1 / (2πfC)
Z = XC = 1 / (ωC)
φ = -90°
XC: Capacitive reactance (Ω)
f: Frequency (Hz)
C: Capacitance (F)
φ: Phase angle (degrees)
Capacitor Types & Characteristics
Different capacitor technologies offer unique performance characteristics
Ceramic
Low ESR, wide frequency range
0.1-10 Ω
DC-GHz
Electrolytic
High capacitance, polarized
0.1-10 Ω
DC-100kHz
Film
Stable, low loss
0.01-1 Ω
DC-MHz
Tantalum
High capacitance density
0.1-5 Ω
DC-100kHz
Key Formulas & Theory
Understanding the mathematics behind capacitor behavior
Capacitive Reactance
Xc = 1/(2πfC)Reactance decreases with frequency
Impedance with ESR
Z = √(ESR² + Xc²)Total impedance including resistance
Self-Resonant Frequency
fr = 1/(2π√(LC))Frequency where Xc = XL
Design Applications
Common uses of capacitors in electronic circuits
Power Supply Decoupling
Reduce power supply noise and voltage ripple
Signal Filtering
Block DC while passing AC signals
Timing Circuits
Create RC time constants for delays
Design Guidelines
Best practices for capacitor selection and implementation
Selection Criteria
Layout Considerations
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