What is the definition of capacitive reactance?

Capacitive reactance is defined as the opposition that a capacitor presents to the flow of alternating current (AC). In AC circuits, capacitors do not simply allow current to flow like a wire; rather, they react to changes in voltage over time. This reaction occurs because capacitors store and release energy in the form of an electric field, which affects how current flows through the circuit.

When a capacitor is connected to an AC source, it charges and discharges continuously as the current alternates direction. This behavior causes a lag between the voltage across the capacitor and the current flowing through it. The measure of this opposition is specifically termed "capacitive reactance" and is denoted by the symbol (X_C).

The value of capacitive reactance is inversely related to the frequency of the AC signal and the capacitance of the capacitor. It can be calculated using the formula:

[ X_C = \frac{1}{2 \pi f C} ]

where (f) is the frequency of the AC signal in hertz and (C) is the capacitance in farads. This relationship shows that as frequency increases, capacitive reactance decreases, allowing more current to flow through the capacitor.

In contrast to