capacitance
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
1Words Nearby capacitance
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use capacitance in a sentence
This change in frequency is achieved by varying the electrical capacitance in the tuned circuit of the oscillator.
LRL Accelerators | Lawrence Radiation LaboratoryAs the blades of the tuning forks vibrate, the capacitance is alternately increased and decreased by the required amount.
LRL Accelerators | Lawrence Radiation LaboratoryThe capacitance of a condenser or a circuit depends on its size and form and the voltage of the current that is charging it.
The Radio Amateur's Hand Book | A. Frederick CollinsThe variable condenser used in series with the aerial wire system has 26 plates and is equal to a capacitance of .0008 mfd.
The Radio Amateur's Hand Book | A. Frederick CollinsThe condenser used in the secondary coil circuit has 14 plates and this is equal to a capacitance of .0004 mfd.
The Radio Amateur's Hand Book | A. Frederick Collins
British Dictionary definitions for capacitance
/ (kəˈpæsɪtəns) /
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
Origin of capacitance
1- Symbol: C
- Former name: capacity
Derived forms of capacitance
- capacitive, adjective
- capacitively, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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