What determines the capacitive reactance of a circuit?

Capacitive reactance in a circuit is determined by the frequency of the applied voltage and the capacitance of the capacitor. The relationship is described by the formula:

[ X_C = \frac{1}{2\pi f C} ]

where ( X_C ) is the capacitive reactance, ( f ) is the frequency in hertz, and ( C ) is the capacitance in farads. From this formula, it becomes evident that as the frequency increases, the capacitive reactance decreases, and conversely, as capacitance increases, the reactance also decreases. This behavior is crucial in AC circuits where the frequency varies and significantly impacts how capacitors behave in those circuits.

The other choices involve components and parameters that do not relate directly to capacitive reactance. Voltage and resistance pertain to Ohm's Law in resistive circuits rather than the behavior of capacitors. Current and inductance relate to inductive reactance, which is governed by a different set of principles. Similarly, power factor and load are more relevant to the overall efficiency and performance of a circuit and do not specifically determine capacitive reactance. Therefore, the analysis firmly supports that frequency and capacitance are the defining factors for capac