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Capacitance

Definition

Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store electrical energy in an electric field. It is defined as the ratio of stored charge on each plate to the potential difference across them.

Analogy

Imagine a sponge that can absorb and hold water. Capacitance is like how much water can be absorbed by that sponge for a given amount of pressure applied. A larger capacitance means more charge can be stored for a given voltage.

Related terms

Capacitor: An electronic component used to store electrical energy.

Dielectric: An insulating material placed between capacitor plates to increase capacitance.

Charge: The fundamental property of matter responsible for electrical interactions.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.