What is the equation relating capacitance, charge, and voltage?

• A. C = Q/V
• B. C = V/Q
• C. C = Q*V
• D. C = Q + V

Answer: (A)

The correct relationship among capacitance, charge, and voltage is expressed by the equation C = Q/V. In this equation, C represents the capacitance, measured in farads (F), Q signifies the charge stored on the capacitor's plates, measured in coulombs (C), and V is the voltage across the capacitor, measured in volts (V).

This formula arises from the fundamental definition of capacitance, which describes how much charge a capacitor can hold for a given voltage. Capacitance quantifies the ability of a capacitor to store electrical energy. Specifically, it indicates how much charge can be accumulated per unit of voltage applied. A higher capacitance indicates that a capacitor can store more charge at the same voltage, thereby showing the direct proportionality of charge to voltage in terms of a given capacitance.

Understanding this relationship is also crucial for analyzing circuits containing capacitors and for applications involving energy storage and timing in electronic devices.