1. What is Parallel RC Impedance?

The impedance (Z) of a resistor and capacitor in parallel is the total opposition to current flow in an AC circuit, combining both resistance (R) and capacitive reactance (Xc). It's a complex quantity with both magnitude and phase.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the parallel impedance formula:

Where:

• \( R \) — Resistance in ohms (Ω)
• \( X_c \) — Capacitive reactance in ohms (Ω)
• \( Z \) — Total impedance in ohms (Ω)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the vector sum of the conductance (1/R) and susceptance (1/Xc) in the parallel circuit.

3. Importance of Impedance Calculation

Details: Calculating parallel impedance is essential for designing filters, analyzing AC circuits, and determining power consumption in reactive circuits.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter resistance and capacitive reactance in ohms. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the magnitude of the total impedance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between impedance and resistance?
A: Resistance opposes DC current, while impedance opposes AC current and includes both resistive and reactive components.

Q2: How does frequency affect the result?
A: Capacitive reactance (Xc) depends on frequency (Xc = 1/(2πfC)). Higher frequencies result in lower Xc and thus lower total impedance.

Q3: What happens when R = Xc?
A: When R = Xc, the impedance magnitude equals R/√2 (about 70.7% of R), and the phase angle is -45 degrees.

Q4: Can this calculator be used for series RC circuits?
A: No, series RC circuits use a different formula: Z = √(R² + Xc²).

Q5: What are typical applications of parallel RC circuits?
A: Common applications include filters, timing circuits, power factor correction, and bypass networks.