How does capacitive reactance differ from inductive reactance in AC circuits?

Capacitive reactance and inductive reactance are two fundamental concepts in AC circuits that determine how capacitors and inductors respond to alternating current.

Capacitive reactance is the opposition that a capacitor presents to the flow of alternating current, and its value is inversely related to the frequency of the AC signal. As the frequency increases, the capacitive reactance decreases. This behavior stems from the fact that capacitors can charge and discharge more quickly at higher frequencies, allowing more current to pass through. Mathematically, capacitive reactance is expressed as (X_C = \frac{1}{2\pi f C}), where (f) is the frequency and (C) is the capacitance.

On the other hand, inductive reactance is the opposition that an inductor presents to the flow of alternating current, which increases with frequency. This is because, at higher frequencies, inductors generate more back electromotive force (EMF) due to the increased rate of change of current, resulting in higher opposition to current flow. Inductive reactance is calculated as (X_L = 2\pi f L), where (L) is the inductance.

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