TABLE 9.

4
1
Variation in XC =
with frequency for a 1-mF
2pfC
capacitor
f
10 Hz
100 Hz
1 kHz
10 kHz
100 kHz
1 MHz
10 MHz
100 MHz

XC
15.91 k
1.59 k
Range of possible
s
effect
159 
15.9 
1.59 
Range of lesser
0.159 
concern
s
15.9 m
( short-circuit
1.59 m
equivalence)

Two regions have been defined in Table 9.4. For the range of 10 Hz to 10 kHz the
magnitude of the reactance is sufficiently large that it may have an impact on the response
of the system. However, for much higher frequencies it appears as though the capacitor is
behaving much like the short-circuit equivalent it is designed to match.
Clearly, therefore,
the larger capacitors of a system will have an important impact on the response of a
system in the low-frequency range and can be ignored for the high-frequency region.

High-Frequency Range
For the smaller capacitors that come into play due to the parasitic capacitances of the
device or network, the frequency range of concern will be the higher frequencies. Consider
a 5-pF capacitor, typical of a parasitic capacitance of a transistor or the level of capacitance
introduced simply by the wiring of the network, and the level of reactance that results for
the same frequency range appearing in Table 9.4. The results appear in Table 9.5 and
clearly reveal that at low frequencies they have a very large impedance matching the
desired open-circuit equivalence. However, at higher frequencies they are approaching a
short-circuit equivalence that can severely affect the response of a network.
TABLE 9.5
1
Variation in XC =
with frequency for a
2pfC
5 pF capacitor
f
10 Hz
100 Hz
1 kHz
10 kHz
100 kHz
1 MHz
10 MHz
100 MHz

XC
3,183 M
Range of lesser
318.3 M
concern
31.83 M s ( open-circuit
equivalent)
3.183 M
318.3 k
31.83 k
Range of possible
3.183 k s effect
318.3 

Clearly, therefore,
the smaller capacitors of a system will have an important impact on the response of a
system in the high-frequency range and can be ignored for the low-frequency region.

Mid-Frequency Range
In the mid-frequency range the effect of the capacitive elements is largely ignored and the
amplifier considered ideal and composed simply of resistive elements and controlled
sources.

GENERAL FREQUENCY 555

CONSIDERATIONS