Capacitor Charge Sign Reference

Description

Calculate ideal capacitor charge with an explicit terminal reference.

Electrical scalar calculations depend on terminal references, polarity flags, current/turns ratios and reactance conventions. Reversing one wattmeter input differs from reversing both, while a voltage difference is not automatically an RMS or phasor quantity. Supplied ideal-component relations do not establish actual wiring or safe electrical operation.

Calculate ideal capacitor charge with an explicit terminal reference.

When to use this tool

Use Capacitor Charge Sign Reference when you already have capacitanceFarads, terminalAVolts, terminalBVolts, reportTerminalA and need to calculate ideal capacitor charge with an explicit terminal reference.

How to use the tool and how it works

Enter capacitanceFarads, terminalAVolts, terminalBVolts, reportTerminalA. Use the units and conventions below.
Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
Read reportedChargeCoulombs. Use the output convention below.

Require capacitanceFarads>=0; compute C*(terminalAVolts-terminalBVolts), then negate when reportTerminalA=false.^[1]

Capacitance in farads times a voltage difference in volts gives charge in coulombs. Terminal reference determines the charge sign.^[2]

Input field	Meaning and units	Accepted input
capacitanceFarads	Capacitance Farads	Required. Finite number; minimum 0.
terminalAVolts	Terminal AVolts	Required. Finite number.
terminalBVolts	Terminal BVolts	Required. Finite number.
reportTerminalA	True reports C*(VA-VB); false reports its negative for the opposite terminal.	Required. Boolean.

Output field	Interpretation	Returned shape
reportedChargeCoulombs	Reported Charge Coulombs	Required. Finite number.

json

{
  "input": {
    "capacitanceFarads": 0.002,
    "terminalAVolts": 12,
    "terminalBVolts": 2,
    "reportTerminalA": true
  },
  "output": {
    "reportedChargeCoulombs": 0.02
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

The output is coulombs. Ideal two-terminal capacitance is assumed; no leakage, voltage rating, nonlinear behavior or safe stored energy is assessed.
Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Use verified circuit and instrument information with a complete model of the actual operating conditions. Include nonideal behavior, ratings and required electrical assessment when local sign arithmetic or ideal turns/capacitance terms cannot establish performance or safety.

References

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