When
a voltage is applied to a circuit containing capacitance, current flows to
accumulate charge in the capacitance:
Q = òidt = CV
Alternatively, by differentiation with respect to time:
dq/dt = i = C dv/dt
Note that the rate of change of voltage has a polarity which
opposes the flow of current.
The capacitance C of a circuit is equal to the charge
divided by the voltage:
C = Q / V = òidt
/ V
Alternatively, the capacitance C of a circuit is equal to
the charging current divided by the rate of change of voltage:
C = i / dv/dt = dq/dt / dv/dt = dq/dv
