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Assume an ideal power supply. For a resistor, we call the ratio between peak voltage and current, the resistance, R. For capacitors and inductors, we use the term the reactance, X, for the ratio between peak voltage and current so that V = I X. This Exploration shows that for an active load like a capacitor or inductor, the reactance depends on the frequency as well (voltage is given in volts, current is given in amperes or milliamperes (note graph labels), capacitance is given in farads, inductance is given in henries, and time is given in seconds). Restart.

1. For a capacitive load, vary the frequency and observe what happens to the current. How is this result related to the formula for capacitive reactance? The graph shows the voltage across (red) and current from the power supply (black) as a function of time. Note that you may need to wait for transient effects to decay if you change the frequency.
2. Double the capacitance and try it again. What happens? Explain your observations in terms of the capacitive reactance.
3. Repeat a) and (b) with an inductive load. What happens if you double the inductance? Explain your observations in terms of the inductive reactance.

If we take this to the limit of ƒ → 0 (DC circuits), then a capacitor is essentially an open circuit. At high frequencies, the capacitor is essentially a short circuit (acts like a wire with little or no resistance).

4. Explain this in terms of what a capacitor does (stores charge) and how it works.
5. At low frequencies, is an inductor essentially an open circuit or a short circuit? What about at high frequencies?
6. Explain in terms of what an inductor does (in terms of induced current).

Exploration authored by Anne J. Cox.
Script authored by Wolfgang Christian and Anne J. Cox.