What happens to the capacitive reactants (Xc) when the capacitance or frequency in a AC circuit increases?

When the capacitance or frequency in an AC circuit increases, the capacitive reactance (Xc) decreases. This is because the formula for capacitive reactance is Xc = 1 / (2πfC), where f is the frequency and C is the capacitance. As either the capacitance or frequency increases, the denominator in the formula increases, causing the overall value of Xc to decrease. This means that the capacitor will allow more current to flow through it, resulting in a lower impedance in the circuit.

Capacitance (C) Increases:

When capacitance increases, the capacitive resistance (Xc) decreases. This is because the relationship between Xc and C is inversely proportional:

```
Xc = 1 / (2πfC)
```

Where:

- Xc is the capacitive resistance in ohms (Ω)
- f is the frequency in hertz (Hz)
- C is the capacitance in farads (F)

Frequency (f) Increases:

When frequency increases, the capacitive resistance (Xc) decreases. This is also because the relationship between Xc and f is inversely proportional, as shown in the equation above.

Therefore, as either capacitance or frequency increases, the capacitive resistance decreases. This is because the capacitor's ability to store charge increases with capacitance, reducing its resistance to the flow of AC current, and the faster the AC signal oscillates (higher frequency), the less time the capacitor has to store charge, also resulting in a lower resistance.