What is the effect of the frequency on the reactance of an AC circuit?

The reactance of an AC circuit is inversely proportional to the frequency.

Reactance is the opposition of an electrical circuit to the flow of current due to the presence of capacitance or inductance. In an AC circuit, the reactance varies with the frequency of the alternating current. The reactance of a capacitor decreases as the frequency increases, while the reactance of an inductor increases as the frequency increases.

The reactance of a capacitor is given by Xc = 1/2πfC, where f is the frequency and C is the capacitance. As the frequency increases, the reactance of the capacitor decreases. This is because at higher frequencies, the capacitor charges and discharges more frequently, allowing more current to flow through the circuit.

Similarly, the reactance of an inductor is given by Xl = 2πfL, where L is the inductance. As the frequency increases, the reactance of the inductor increases. This is because at higher frequencies, the inductor resists the change in current more strongly, reducing the amount of current that can flow through the circuit.

Therefore, the reactance of an AC circuit is inversely proportional to the frequency. As the frequency increases, the reactance of the capacitor decreases and the reactance of the inductor increases, resulting in a change in the overall reactance of the circuit. This relationship is important in the design and analysis of AC circuits.