Question
Explain the term capacitive reactance. State its unit and dimensions.

Answer

i. The peak value of alternating current through a capacitor is given by,
$
i _0=\frac{ e _0}{(1 / \omega C )}
$
ii. For a capacitive a.c. circuit, According to Ohm's law,
$
i =\frac{ V }{ R }
$
where $R$ = resistance of the circuit.
iii. Comparing equations ( 1 ) and (2), we conclude that $\left(\frac{1}{\omega C }\right)$ plays a similar role in capacitive $AC$ circuit as resistance in a purely resistive circuit.
iv. Hence, the effective resistance $\left(X_C\right)$ offered by the capacitor $C$ is given as,
$
X _{ C }=\frac{1}{\omega C }=\frac{1}{2 \pi fC } \cdots \cdots\left(\because \omega=\frac{2 \pi}{ T }=2 \pi f \right)
$
Where $f=$ frequency of $A C$ supply
v. The function of capacitive reactance in a purely capacitive circuit is to limit the amplitude of the current similar to the resistance in a purely resistive circuit.
vi. $X_C$ varies inversely as the frequency of $A C$ and also as the capacitance of the condenser.
vii. In a $D C$ circuit, $f=0$
$
\therefore X _{ C }=\infty
$
Thus, the capacitor blocks DC and acts as an open circuit while it passes $A C$ of high frequency.
viii. The dimensions of capacitive reactance are $\left[ ML ^2 T ^{-3}\right.$ I ${ }^{-2}$ ] and its SI unit is the ohm $(\Omega)$.

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