Capacitance Calculator

The capacitance calculator will calculate capacitance of any kind of capacitor. Check how changing the distance between plates increases or decreases capacitance accordingly. Get results in other related units as well.

What Is Capacitance?

“It is the ability of a capacitor to store charge”

The capacitance of a capacitor is always dependent on two factors that include:

• Dielectric medium
• Distance between the capacitor plates

Parallel Plate Capacitor Formula:

Our parallel plate capacitor calculator uses the standard equation to calculate capacitor capacitance. However, if your goal comes up with manual calculations, follow the formula:

Capacitance = ​ε Area / Distance

Or

C = ε A / s

Where;

ε = 8.854 pF / m

The above permittivity value is the standard that is used used by this capacitor capacitance calculator with no specific capacitance entered.

How To Find Capacitance?

Basically, capacitance is the ratio of the charge in a capacitor to the voltage across its plates. Let us figure out through an example!

Statement:

If the area occupied by the capacitor plates is about 125 mm^2 and the separation between plates is about 7 mm, then how to calculate capacitance? (The relative permittivity of space is about 0.000124 F/m.)

Solution:

Using the parallel plate capacitance formula:

C = ε A / s

C = (0.000124 F/m * 125 mm^2) / 7mm

C = 0.0155 / 7

C = 0.00221 Farads

Which is the required capacitance at which the parallel plate capacitor will work normally without trouble.

Working of Capacitance Calculator:

Our calculator requires certain values to calculate capacitance. Let’s explore these ones by one!

Input:

• Enter the values of area, permittivity, and space between plates
• Tap Calculate

Output:

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
Conversions in other related units of measurement

Faqs:

What Is The Value of K In Capacitance?

• For free space, k=1
• For all other media, k>1

To accurately calculate capacitance with any value of k, you may better let this capacitance calculator do all maths for you.

What Is a Normal Capacitance?

The normal capacitance value ranges typically from 1nF to 1µF.

What Causes Capacitance To Increase?

The increasing area of the plate is directly proportional to the capacitance. So to get more capacitance value, you need to use a capacitor with a high capacitance value.

What Causes Negative Capacitance?

When the change introduced in charge changes the voltage value but in the opposite direction, the capacitance will be considered negative.

Capacitance Conversion Chart:

References:

From the source Wikipedia: Capacitance, Self-capacitance, Mutual capacitance, Capacitance matrix, Stray capacitance, Capacitance of conductors with simple shapes, Energy storage

From the source Khan Academy: Capacitors and capacitance