1. What is Capacitor Voltage?

The voltage across a capacitor is the potential difference between its plates when it holds a certain amount of electric charge. It's determined by the ratio of the stored charge to the capacitor's capacitance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fundamental capacitor voltage equation:

Where:

• \( V \) — Voltage across capacitor (volts)
• \( Q \) — Stored charge (coulombs)
• \( C \) — Capacitance (farads)

Explanation: The voltage is directly proportional to the stored charge and inversely proportional to the capacitance.

3. Importance of Voltage Calculation

Details: Knowing the voltage across a capacitor is essential for circuit design, energy storage calculations, and ensuring components operate within their rated voltages.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter charge in coulombs and capacitance in farads. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the voltage in volts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if voltage exceeds capacitor rating?
A: The capacitor may fail, potentially causing it to explode or leak electrolyte. Always use capacitors rated for higher than expected voltages.

Q2: How does voltage relate to energy stored?
A: Energy stored in a capacitor is given by \( E = \frac{1}{2}CV^2 \), showing energy increases with the square of voltage.

Q3: Does voltage change if capacitance changes?
A: For a fixed charge, yes. If capacitance increases, voltage decreases proportionally, and vice versa.

Q4: What's the difference between voltage and charge?
A: Charge is the actual quantity of stored electrons, while voltage is the potential energy per unit charge.

Q5: Can this formula be used for AC circuits?
A: This gives the DC voltage. For AC circuits, you need to consider capacitive reactance and phase relationships.