1. What is the Voltage Across a Capacitor?

The voltage across a capacitor is the electrical potential difference between its plates, determined by the amount of charge stored and the capacitor's capacitance. This fundamental relationship is described by the formula V = Q/C.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the capacitor voltage equation:

Where:

• \( V \) — Voltage across capacitor (Volts)
• \( Q \) — Charge stored (Coulombs)
• \( C \) — Capacitance (Farads)

Explanation: The voltage across a capacitor is directly proportional to the charge stored and inversely proportional to its capacitance.

3. Importance of Voltage Calculation

Details: Calculating voltage across capacitors is essential for circuit design, energy storage analysis, timing circuits, filter design, and understanding capacitor behavior in electronic systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter charge in Coulombs and capacitance in Farads. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if capacitance is zero?
A: Capacitance cannot be zero in practical capacitors. The formula V = Q/C shows that voltage approaches infinity as capacitance approaches zero.

Q2: How does voltage relate to energy storage?
A: The energy stored in a capacitor is given by E = ½CV², showing that energy increases with the square of the voltage.

Q3: Can voltage exceed the capacitor's rating?
A: Exceeding the rated voltage can cause dielectric breakdown and permanent damage to the capacitor.

Q4: How does voltage change during charging/discharging?
A: Voltage changes exponentially during RC circuit charging/discharging according to V = V₀(1 - e^(-t/RC)) and V = V₀e^(-t/RC) respectively.

Q5: Are there different units for capacitance?
A: While Farads are the SI unit, capacitors are often rated in microfarads (μF), nanofarads (nF), or picofarads (pF) for practical applications.