What is the unit of measure for capacitive reactance?

Capacitive reactance is measured in ohms, which is the unit of measure for electrical impedance. Reactance, including capacitive and inductive types, determines how much a component resists the flow of alternating current based on the frequency of the current and the value of the capacitor. In the case of capacitive reactance, it is defined mathematically as the ratio of the voltage across the capacitor to the current flowing through it at a specific frequency.

Understanding this is essential because it helps linemen and electricians assess how capacitors will affect the electrical circuits they are working with, especially in alternating current (AC) systems where reactance plays a significant role. The other units mentioned, such as volts, farads, or hertz, refer to different electrical concepts: volts measure electric potential, farads measure capacitance, and hertz measure frequency. Each serves its specific purpose in electrical engineering but does not apply to the measurement of capacitive reactance.