Capacitor Energy Calculator
Calculate the energy stored in a capacitor based on its capacitance and voltage.
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Table of Contents
Capacitor Energy Formula
The energy stored in a capacitor is the work done to charge it. This energy is stored in the electric field between the plates.
Where:
- E = Energy stored (J)
- C = Capacitance (F)
- V = Voltage (V)
How to Calculate
To calculate capacitor energy, follow these steps:
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1Measure the capacitance of the capacitor
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2Measure the voltage across the capacitor
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3Square the voltage
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4Multiply by half the capacitance
Common Capacitances
Common capacitor values:
- Electrolytic: 1 μF to 10000 μF
- Ceramic: 1 pF to 1 μF
- Tantalum: 0.1 μF to 1000 μF
- Film: 0.001 μF to 100 μF
- Supercapacitor: 0.1 F to 5000 F
Capacitance values can vary with temperature, frequency, and voltage. The values given are typical ranges.
Practical Examples
Example 1 Standard Capacitor
Calculate the energy stored in a 100 μF capacitor charged to 12V.
C = 100 × 10⁻⁶ F
V = 12 V
E = ½ × 100 × 10⁻⁶ × 12² = 0.0072 J
Example 2 Supercapacitor
Calculate the energy stored in a 1F supercapacitor charged to 2.7V.
C = 1 F
V = 2.7 V
E = ½ × 1 × 2.7² = 3.645 J