1. What is the Capacitor Voltage Divider?

The capacitor voltage divider is a circuit that produces an output voltage (V_out) that is a fraction of its input voltage (V_in), based on the ratio of two capacitors in series. This works for AC signals where the capacitors' reactance forms the voltage divider.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the capacitor voltage divider equation:

Where:

• \( V_{in} \) — Input voltage (volts)
• \( C1 \) — First capacitor value (farads)
• \( C2 \) — Second capacitor value (farads)

Explanation: The output voltage is determined by the ratio of C1 to the total capacitance (C1 + C2), multiplied by the input voltage.

3. Importance of Voltage Division

Details: Capacitor voltage dividers are essential in AC circuits for signal attenuation, impedance matching, and creating reference voltages without dissipating power like resistive dividers.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter input voltage in volts and both capacitor values in farads. All values must be positive numbers. For practical values, remember 1μF = 0.000001F.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this work for DC voltage?
A: No, capacitors block DC current. This divider only works for AC signals where the capacitors can charge and discharge.

Q2: What about capacitor tolerance?
A: Real-world capacitors have tolerance ratings (often ±10-20%) which will affect the actual voltage division.

Q3: Does frequency matter in this calculation?
A: The basic formula assumes ideal capacitors. In reality, capacitor reactance (X_C = 1/(2πfC)) means frequency affects the division at extreme values.

Q4: Can I use different capacitor types?
A: Yes, but be aware that different types (ceramic, electrolytic, film) have different frequency responses and ESR that may affect performance.

Q5: What's the advantage over resistive dividers?
A: Capacitive dividers don't dissipate power as heat and can be more efficient for AC signals, especially at high frequencies.