capacitance
[ kuh-pas-i-tuh ns ]
/ kəˈpæs ɪ təns /
noun Electricity.
the ratio of an impressed charge on a conductor to the corresponding change in potential.
the ratio of the charge on either conductor of a capacitor to the potential difference between the conductors.
the property of being able to collect a charge of electricity. Symbol: C
Origin of capacitance
First recorded in 1905–10;
capacit(y) +
-ance
Words nearby capacitance
capa,
capability,
capablanca,
capable,
capacious,
capacitance,
capacitate,
capacitation,
capacitive,
capacitive coupling,
capacitive reactance
Example sentences from the Web for capacitance
British Dictionary definitions for capacitance
capacitance
/ (kəˈpæsɪtəns) /
noun
the property of a system that enables it to store electric charge
a measure of this, equal to the charge that must be added to such a system to raise its electrical potential by one unit
Symbol:
CFormer name:
capacity
Derived forms of capacitance
capacitive, adjective capacitively, adverbWord Origin for capacitance
C20: from
capacit (
y) +
-ance
Scientific definitions for capacitance
capacitance
[ kə-păs′ĭ-təns ]
A measure of the ability of a configuration of materials to store electric charge. In a capacitor, capacitance depends on the size of the plates, the type of insulator, and the amount of space between the plates. Most electrical components display capacitance to some degree; even the spaces between components of a circuit have a natural capacitance. Capacitance is measured in farads. Compare inductance.