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Inductive & capacitive reactance
How an inductor and capacitor respond at a frequency.
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Formula & context
XL = 2πfL; XC = −1/(2πfC)
An ideal inductor has positive reactance; an ideal capacitor has negative reactance. Signed values add in a series circuit.
A worked example
As frequency rises, XL increases and the magnitude of XC decreases. At LC resonance they cancel in series.
Assumptions & limits
Calculated reactance is not resistive loss. Component parasitics and self-resonance are excluded.
Inductors, capacitors and resonanceUnderstand the reasoning →From reading to experimenting
Inductive & capacitive reactance
As frequency rises, XL increases and the magnitude of XC decreases. At LC resonance they cancel in series.
Open example with starting values →Frequency: 14.2 MHz · Inductance: 1 µH · Capacitance: 100 pFBack to the learning article →Then change exactly one value. Compare the result and use the formula to explain why it changes. The model limits below the calculator also apply here.