Summary

■ Capacitive reactance, indicated by XC, ■ For the same frequency, XC decreases
is the opposition of a capacitance to
the flow of sine-wave alternating
current.
■ Reactance XC is measured in ohms
because it limits the current to the
value V /XC. With V in volts and XC in
ohms, I is in amperes.
■ XC  1/(2fC ). With f in hertz and C
in farads, XC is in ohms.
■ For the same value of capacitance, XC
decreases when the frequency
increases.
■ The combined reactance of parallel
when the capacitance increases. capacitive reactances is calculated by
■ With XC and f known, the the reciprocal formula, as for parallel
capacitance C  1/(2f XC). resistances. Each branch current is
V /XC. The total line current is the sum
■ With XC and C known, the frequency
of the individual branch currents.
f  1/(2CXC).
■ Table 17–3 summarizes the
■ The total XC of capacitive reactances
differences between C and XC.
in series equals the sum of the
individual values, as for series
resistances. The series reactances
have the same current. The voltage
across each reactance is IXC.

Comparison of Capacitance
Table 17–3
and Capacitive Reactance
Capacitance Capacitive Reactance
Symbol is C Symbol is XC
Measured in Measured in ohm units
farad units
Depends on Depends on frequency
construction of of sine-wave voltage
capacitor
C  iC/(dv/dt) XC  vC/iC or 1/(2fC )
or Q/V

Important Terms
Capacitive reactance, XC a measure of capacitor as the charge stored by the Phase angle the angular difference or
a capacitor’s opposition to the flow of dielectric decreases. The discharge displacement between two waveforms.
alternating current. XC is measured current of a capacitor is opposite in For a capacitor, the charge and
1 or X  __ VC direction to the charging current. discharge current, iC, reaches its
in ohms. XC  ______ C .
2fC IC Inversely proportional the same as a maximum value 90 ahead of the
XC applies only to sine-wave ac circuits. capacitor voltage, vC. As a result, the
reciprocal relation; as the value in the
Charging current the current that denominator increases the resultant charge and discharge current, iC, is said
flows to and from the plates of a quotient decreases. In the formula to lead the capacitor voltage, vC, by a
capacitor as the charge stored by the 1 , X is inversely proportional phase angle of 90.
dielectric increases. XC  _____
2fC C
Discharge current the current that to both f and C. This means that as f
flows to and from the plates of a and C increase, XC decreases.

Related Formulas
1
XC  _____ XCEQ  _____ 1
2fC _1 _1 _1  . . .  etc. (Parallel capacitive reactances)
1 XC1 XC2 XC3
C  _____
2f XC dv
iC  C __
1 dt
f  ______
2CXC V
XC  __C
XCT  XC1  XC2  . . .  etc. (Series capacitive reactances) IC

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 Self-Test
Answers at back of book. 6. At what frequency does a 11. Two 5-k⍀ XC values in parallel
0.015-F capacitor have an XC have an equivalent capacitive
1. The capacitive reactance, XC, of a value of 2 k? reactance of
capacitor is
a. 5.3 MHz. a. 7.07 k.
a. inversely proportional to frequency.
b. 5.3 Hz. b. 2.5 k.
b. unaffected by frequency.
c. 5.3 kHz. c. 10 k.
c. directly proportional to frequency.
d. 106 kHz. d. 3.53 k.
d. directly proportional to
capacitance. 7. What is the capacitive reactance, 12. For any capacitor,
XC, of a 330-pF capacitor at a a. the stored charge increases with
2. The charge and discharge current frequency of 1 MHz? more capacitor voltage.
of a capacitor flows
a. 482 . b. the charge and discharge currents
a. through the dielectric.
b. 48.2 . are in opposite directions.
b. only when a dc voltage is applied.
c. 1 k. c. iC leads vC by 90.
c. to and from the plates.
d. 482 M. d. all of the above.
d. both a and b.
8. What is the instantaneous value of 13. The unit of capacitive reactance,
3. For direct current (dc), a capacitor charging current, iC, of a 10-␮F XC, is the
acts like a(n) capacitor if the voltage across the a. ohm.
a. closed switch. capacitor plates changes at the
rate of 250 V per second? b. farad.
b. open.
a. 250 A. c. hertz.
c. short.
b. 2.5 A. d. radian.
d. small resistance.
c. 2.5 A. 14. The main difference between
4. At the same frequency, a larger d. 2.5 mA. resistance, R, and capacitive
capacitance provides reactance, XC, is that
a. more charge and discharge current. 9. For a capacitor, the charge and a. XC is the same for both dc and ac,
b. less charge and discharge current. discharge current, iC, whereas R depends on frequency.
c. less capacitive reactance, XC. a. lags the capacitor voltage, vC, by a b. R is the same for both dc and ac,
phase angle of 90. whereas XC depends on frequency.
d. both a and c.
b. leads the capacitor voltage, vC, by a c. R is measured in ohms and XC is
5. How much is the capacitance, C, of phase angle of 90. measured in farads.
a capacitor that draws 4.8 mA of c. is in phase with the capacitor d. none of the above.
current from a 12-Vac generator? voltage, vC.
The frequency of the ac generator d. none of the above. 15. A very common use for a capacitor
is 636.6 Hz. is to
a. 0.01 F. 10. Two 1-k⍀ XC values in series have a. block any dc voltage but provide
b. 0.1 F. a total capacitive reactance of very little opposition to an ac
c. 0.001 F. a. 1.414 k. voltage.
d. 100 pF. b. 500 . b. block both dc and ac voltages.
c. 2 k. c. pass both dc and ac voltages.
d. 707 . d. none of the above.

Essay Questions
1. Why is capacitive reactance measured in ohms? State two
differences between capacitance and capacitive reactance.
2. Explain briefly why the bulb lights in Fig. 17–1a but not in c.
3. Explain briefly what is meant by two factors being inversely
proportional. How does this apply to XC and C ? XC and f ?
4. In comparing XC and R, give two differences and one
similarity.
5. Why are the waves in Fig. 17–8a and b considered to be
90 out of phase, but the waves in Fig. 17–8b and c have
the same phase?
6. Referring to Fig. 17–3, how does this graph show an
inverse relation between XC and C ?
7. Referring to Fig. 17–4, how does this graph show an
inverse relation between XC and f ?

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 8. Referring to Fig. 17–8, draw three similar curves but for a 9. (a) What is the relationship between charge q and
sine wave of voltage with a period T  12 s for the full current i ? (b) How is this comparison similar to the
cycle. Use the same C of 240 pF. Compare the value of XC relation between the two formulas Q  C V and
obtained as 1/(2fC ) and vC /iC. ic  C (dv /dt)?

Problems
SECTION 17–1 ALTERNATING CURRENT IN A c. Vac  15 V and I  300 A.
CAPACITIVE CIRCUIT d. Vac  100 V and I  50 A.
17–1 With the switch, S1, closed in Fig. 17–9, how much is
a. the current, I, in the circuit? Figure 17–11
b. the dc voltage across the 12–V lamp?

c. the dc voltage across the capacitor?
mA

Figure 17–9
C1  100 F
Vac C


VT  12 V 12-V lamp
 17–5 In Fig. 17–11, list three factors that can affect the
amount of charge and discharge current flowing in the
circuit.

SECTION 17–2 THE AMOUNT OF XC EQUALS _____ 1

S1 2fC
17–6 Calculate the capacitive reactance, XC, of a 0.1-F
17–2 In Fig. 17–9 explain why the bulb will light for just an capacitor at the following frequencies:
instant when S1 is initially closed. a. f  10 Hz.
17–3 In Fig. 17–10, the capacitor and the lightbulb draw 400 mA b. f  50 Hz.
from the 120-Vac source. How much current flows c. f  200 Hz.
a. to and from the terminals of the 120-Vac source? d. f  10 kHz.
b. through the lightbulb?
17–7 Calculate the capacitive reactance, XC, of a 10-F
c. to and from the plates of the capacitor? capacitor at the following frequencies:
d. through the connecting wires? a. f  60 Hz.
e. through the dielectric of the capacitor? b. f  120 Hz.
c. f  500 Hz.
Figure 17–10 d. f  1 kHz.
C1  10 F 17–8 What value of capacitance will provide an XC of 1 k at
the following frequencies?
a. f  318.3 Hz.
b. f  1.591 kHz.
V  120 Vac c. f  3.183 kHz.
Lightbulb
f  60 Hz d. f  6.366 kHz.

  400 mA
17–9 At what frequency will a 0.047-F capacitor provide an
XC value of
a. 100 k?
17–4 In Fig. 17–11, calculate the capacitive reactance, XC, for b. 5 k?
the following values of Vac and I ? c. 1.5 k?
a. Vac  10 V and I  20 mA. d. 50 ?
b. Vac  24 V and I  8 mA.

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 17–10 How much is the capacitance of a capacitor that draws SECTION 17–4 OHM’S LAW APPLIED TO XC
2 mA of current from a 10-Vac generator whose 17–19 In Fig. 17–12, calculate the current, I.
frequency is 3.183 kHz?

17–11 At what frequency will a 820-pF capacitance have an XC

value of 250 ? Figure 17–12

17–12 A 0.01-F capacitor draws 50 mA of current when

connected directly across a 50-Vac source. What is the
value of current drawn by the capacitor when
a. the frequency is doubled? VA  75 Vac XC  1.5 k
b. the frequency is decreased by one-half?
c. the capacitance is doubled to 0.02 F?

d. the capacitance is reduced by one–half to 0.005 F?

17–13 A capacitor has an XC value of 10 k at a given

frequency. What is the new value of XC when the
frequency is 17–20 In Fig. 17–12, what happens to the current, I, when the
frequency of the applied voltage
a. cut in half?
a. decrease?
b. doubled?
b. increase?
c. quadrupled?
d. increased by a factor of 10? 17–21 In Fig. 17–13, solve for
a. XCT.
17–14 Calculate the capacitive reactance, XC, for the following
capacitance and frequency values: b. I.
a. C  0.47 F, f  1 kHz. c. VC1, VC2, and VC3.
b. C  100 F, f  120 Hz.
c. C  250 pF, f  1 MHz. Figure 17–13
d. C  0.0022 F, f  50 kHz.

17–15 Determine the capacitance value for the following

frequency and XC values:
a. XC  1 k, f  3.183 kHz. XC1  400 

b. XC  200 , f  63.66 kHz.

c. XC  25 k, f  1.592 kHz.
d. XC  1 M, f  100 Hz.
VT  36 Vac XC2  800 

17–16 Determine the frequency for the following capacitance

and XC values:
a. C  0.05 F, XC  4 k.
b. C  0.1 F, XC  1.591 k. XC3  1.2 k

c. C  0.0082 F, XC  6.366 k.


d. C  50 F, XC  100 .

SECTION 17–3 SERIES OR PARALLEL CAPACITIVE

REACTANCES 17–22 In Fig. 17–14, solve for
17–17 How much is the total capacitive reactance, XC ,for the
T a. XC1, XC2, and XC3.
following series capacitive reactances:
b. XCT.
a. XC1  1 k, XC2  1.5 k, XC3  2.5 k.
c. I.
b. XC1  500 , XC2  1 k, XC  1.5 k.
3 d. VC1, VC2, and VC3 .
c. XC  20 k, XC2  10 k, XC3  120 k.
1 e. CEQ.
d. XC1  340 , XC2  570 , XC3  2.09 k.
17–23 In Fig. 17–13, solve for C1, C2, C3, and CEQ if the applied
17–18 What is the equivalent capacitive reactance, XCEQ,for the voltage has a frequency of 318.3 Hz.
following parallel capacitive reactances:
a. XC1  100  and XC2  400 . 17–24 In Fig. 17–15, solve for
b. XC  1.2 k and XC2  1.8 k. a. IC1, IC2, and IC3.
1
c. XC  15 , XC2  6 , XC3  10 . b. IT.
1
d. XC1  2.5 k, XC2  10 k, XC3  2 k, XC4  1 k. c. XCEQ.

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 17–26 In Fig. 17–15, solve for C1, C2, C3, and CT if the frequency
Figure 17–14 of the applied voltage is 6.366 kHz.

SECTION 17–5 APPLICATIONS OF CAPACITIVE

REACTANCE
17–27 Calculate the value of capacitance, C, required to
C1  0.1 F
produce an XC value of 500  at the following
frequencies:
a f  100 Hz.
VT  120 Vac b. f  2 kHz.
C2  0.05 F
f  1.591 kHz c. f  50 kHz.
d. f  10 MHz.

SECTION 17–6 SINE-WAVE CHARGE AND

C3  0.02 F DISCHARGE CURRENT
17–28 Calculate the instantaneous charging current, iC, for a
 0.33-F capacitor if the voltage across the capacitor
plates changes at the rate of 10 V/1 ms.

17–29 Calculate the instantaneous charging current, iC, for a

Figure 17–15 0.01-F capacitor if the voltage across the capacitor
plates changes at the rate of
a. 100 V/s.
b. 100 V/ms.
c. 50 V/s.
VA  XC3 
XC1  120  XC2  60 
120 Vac 40 
17–30 What is the instantaneous discharge current, iC, for a
100-F capacitor if the voltage across the capacitor
plates decreases at the rate of
a. 10 V/s.
b. 1 V/ms.
17–25 In Fig. 17–16, solve for
c. 50 V/ms.
a. XC1, XC2, and XC3.
b. IC1, IC2, and IC3. 17–31 For a capacitor, what is the phase relationship between
the charge and discharge current, iC, and the capacitor
c. IT.
voltage, vC? Explain your answer.
d. XCEQ.
e. CT. 17–32 A capacitor has a discharge current, iC, of 15 mA when
the voltage across its plates decreases at the rate of
150 V/s. Calculate C.
Figure 17–16 dv , will produce a
17–33 What rate of voltage change, ___
dt
charging current of 25 mA in a 0.01-F capacitor?
Express your answer in volts per second.

VA  24 V C3 
C1  C2 
f  1.989 kHz 1 F
0.2 F 0.25 F

Critical Thinking
17–34 Explain an experimental procedure for determining the 17–35 In Fig. 17–17, calculate XC T, XC1, XC2, C1, C3, VC1, VC2, VC3, IC2,
value of an unmarked capacitor. (Assume that a and IC3.
capacitance meter is not available.)

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 Figure 17–17 Circuit for Critical Thinking Prob. 17–35.
C1

IT  40 mA

VT  25 V
f  31.831 kHz

C2  0.01  F C3
XC3  166.67 

Answers to Self-Reviews 17–1 a. 0.1 F 17–4 a. 300 

b. 0.5 F b. 66.7 

17–2 a. 200  17–5 a. 50 

b. 800  b. 1000 
c. larger
17–6 a. 90
17–3 a. 500  b. 0 or 360
b. 120  c. 90

Laboratory Application Assignment

In this lab application assignment you will examine how the How do the experimental values of XC compare to those initially
capacitive reactance, XC, of a capacitor decreases when the calculated? ____________________________________
frequency, f, increases. You will also see that more capacitance, Based on your experimental values, what happens to the value of
C, at a given frequency results in less capacitive reactance, XC. XC each time the frequency, f, is doubled? _________________
Finally, you will observe how XC values combine in series and in
parallel.
Figure 17–18
Equipment: Obtain the following items from your instructor.
• Function generator
• Assortment of capacitors
• DMM
V  5 Vrms C  0.47 F
Capacitive Reactance, XC
Refer to Fig. 17–18a. Calculate and record the value of XC for
each of the following frequencies listed below. Calculate XC as
1/(2fC ).
(a )
XC  __________ @ f  100 Hz
XC  __________ @ f  200 Hz
XC  __________ @ f  400 Hz
Connect the circuit in Fig. 17–18a. Set the voltage source to
exactly 5 Vrms. For each of the following frequencies listed below, V  5 Vrms
C
measure and record the current, I. (Use a DMM to measure I.) f  500 Hz
Next, calculate XC as V/l.
I  __________ @f  100 Hz; XC  __________
I  __________ @f  200 Hz; XC  __________
I  __________ @f  400 Hz; XC  __________ (b)

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 Is XC proportional or inversely proportional to the frequency, f ?
___________ Figure 17–19

Refer to Fig. 17–18b. With the frequency, f, set to 500 Hz, C1  0.1 F
calculate and record the value of XC for each of the following
capacitance values listed below. Calculate XC as 1兾(2fC ).
XC  ________ when C  0.1 F
XC  ________ when C  0.22 F VT  5 Vrms
C2  0.22 F
XC  ________ when C  0.47 F f  500 Hz

Connect the circuit in Fig. 17–18b. Adjust the frequency of the

function generator to exactly 500 Hz. For each of the following
capacitance values listed below, measure and record the current,
I. (Use a DMM to measure I.) Next, calculate XC as V/l. (a)

I  ________ when C  0.1 F; XC  __________

I  ________ when C  0.22 F; XC  __________
I  ________ when C  0.47 F; XC  __________
Is XC proportional or inversely proportional to the value of VA  5 Vrms
capacitance? ______________________________________ C1  0.1 F C2  0.22 F
f  500 Hz

Series Capacitive Reactances

Refer to the circuit in Fig. 17–19a. Calculate and record the
following values:
XC1 _______, XC2  _______, XCT  _______, I  _______,
VC1  _______, VC2  _______
Do VC1 and VC2 add to equal VT?
Construct the circuit in Fig. 17–19a. Set the frequency of the
function generator to exactly 500 Hz. Next, using a DMM,
measure and record the following values:
I  _______, VC1  _______, VC2  _______
Using the measured values of voltage and current, calculate the
following values:
XC1  _______, XC2  _______, XCT  _______
Are the experimental values calculated here close to those
initially calculated above? ______
Parallel Capacitive Reactances
Refer to the circuit in Fig. 17–19b. Calculate and record the
following values:
(b)
XC1  _______, XC2  _______, IC1  _______, IC2  _______,
IT  _______, XCEQ  _______
Do IC1 and IC2 add to equal IT? _______
Construct the circuit in Fig. 17–19b. Set the frequency of the
function generator to exactly 500 Hz. Next, using a DMM,
measure and record the following values:
IC1  _______, IC2  _______, IT  _______
Using the measured values of voltage and current, calculate the
following values:
XC1  _______, XC2  _______, XCEQ  _______
Are the experimental values calculated here close to those
initially calculated above? _______

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