capacitance

[ kuh-pas-i-tuhns ]

/ kəˈpæs ɪ təns /

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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

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Origin of capacitance

First recorded in 1905–10; capacit(y) + -ance

Words nearby capacitance

capa, capability, Capablanca, capable, capacious, capacitance, capacitate, capacitive, capacitive coupling, capacitive reactance, capacitor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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 Laboratory
As the blades of the tuning forks vibrate, the capacitance is alternately increased and decreased by the required amount.
LRL Accelerators|Lawrence Radiation Laboratory
The 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 Collins
The 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 Collins

The 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

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, adjectivecapacitively, adverb

Word Origin for capacitance

C20: from capacit (y) + -ance

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

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.