Definition:Capacitance

Definition

The capacitance of a capacitor $B$ is the amount of electric charge that is held on $B$ per unit potential difference.

Symbol

$C$

The usual symbol used to denote capacitance is $C$.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is C .

Dimension

The dimension of measurement of capacitance is $\mathsf {M^{-1} L^{-2} T^4 I^2}$.

This derives from its definition as:

$C = \dfrac Q V$

where:

$Q$ has dimension $\mathsf {I T}$

$V$ has dimension $\mathsf {M L^2 T^{−3} I^{−1} }$

Unit

The SI unit of capacitance is the farad $\mathbf F$.

In the CGS unrationalised electromagnetic system, the unit of capacitance is the abfarad $\mathrm {abF}$.

In the CGS unrationalised electrostatic system, the unit of capacitance is the statfarad $\mathrm {statF}$.

Conversion Factors

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 1\)

farad

\(\ds \text {corresponds to}\)

\(\)

\(\ds 10^{-9}\)

abfarad (or e.m.u. of capacitance)

\(\ds \text {corresponds to (approximately)}\)

\(\)

\(\ds 9 \times 10^{11}\)

statfarad (or e.s.u. of capacitance)

Also see

• Results about capacitance can be found here.

Sources

• 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1.$ Units and Abbreviations: $1.2$ SI units $(2)$ Derived units