If you increase the value of a capacitor, what happens to the capacitive reactance?

The capacitive reactance, which represents how a capacitor impedes the flow of alternating current (AC), is inversely related to both the capacitance value and the frequency of the signal passing through it. The formula for calculating capacitive reactance (Xc) is given by:

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

where ( f ) is the frequency in hertz and ( C ) is the capacitance in farads.

When the value of the capacitor (C) increases, the denominator of the formula becomes larger. As a result, the overall value of capacitive reactance (Xc) decreases. This means that the capacitor will allow more current to pass through at a given frequency.

Thus, increasing the capacitance leads to a decrease in capacitive reactance, allowing for greater AC current flow at that frequency. This principle is essential for understanding circuits in alternating current applications and how capacitors respond to different conditions.