What is the standard unit of capacitance?

• A. The farad
• B. The henry
• C. The ohm
• D. The volt

Answer: (A)

The standard unit of capacitance is the farad. This unit measures how much electric charge a capacitor can store per volt of electrical potential across its plates. In practical terms, a capacitor with a value of one farad can store one coulomb of charge at a voltage of one volt.

Capacitance reflects a capacitor's ability to hold an electric charge; thus, it plays a crucial role in various electronic applications, such as filtering, timing, and coupling signals. Understanding capacitance and its measurement in farads is essential for anyone working with electronic circuits, as it directly impacts the behavior and functionality of capacitors in the system.

Other units mentioned, such as henries, ohms, and volts, correspond to different electrical properties. The henry measures inductance, which is related to the ability of a coil to store energy in a magnetic field. The ohm represents resistance, indicating how much a material opposes the flow of electric current. The volt measures electrical potential difference, which drives the flow of current in a circuit. Each of these units has its specific application and context, making the farad unique as the recognized standard unit of capacitance.