1. What is Electrical Impedance?

Impedance (Z) is the total opposition to current flow in an AC circuit, combining resistance (R) and reactance (X). It's measured in ohms (Ω) and is a complex quantity with both magnitude and phase.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the impedance formula:

Where:

• \( R \) — Resistance in ohms (Ω)
• \( X_L \) — Inductive reactance in ohms (Ω)
• \( X_C \) — Capacitive reactance in ohms (Ω)

Explanation: The formula calculates the magnitude of impedance by considering both the resistive and reactive components of the circuit.

3. Importance of Impedance Calculation

Details: Impedance is crucial for designing and analyzing AC circuits, determining power transfer, calculating voltage drops, and designing filters and matching networks.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter all values in ohms. Resistance must be positive, while reactance values can be positive or negative (though the calculator will use their magnitudes).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between impedance and resistance?
A: Resistance opposes DC current, while impedance opposes AC current and includes both resistance and reactance components.

Q2: What happens when X_L = X_C?
A: When inductive and capacitive reactance are equal, they cancel out, resulting in minimum impedance (Z = R). This is called resonance.

Q3: Can impedance be negative?
A: The magnitude of impedance is always positive, though its complex representation can have negative imaginary components.

Q4: How does frequency affect impedance?
A: X_L increases with frequency (X_L = 2πfL), while X_C decreases with frequency (X_C = 1/(2πfC)).

Q5: When is impedance purely resistive?
A: When X_L - X_C = 0 (at resonance) or in DC circuits where frequency is zero.