Kapazitativ

Kapazitativ is an adjective used in German to describe phenomena, devices, or measurements related to capacitance, the ability to store electric charge in an electric field between conductors separated by a dielectric. The more common German form is kapazitiv; both derive from Kapazität (capacitance). The noun form is Kapazität.

In electrical engineering, kapazitiv refers to components and circuits that exhibit capacitive behavior. The primary example is the capacitor, which stores energy in an electric field with energy E = 1/2 C V^2. An alternating current signal in a capacitive circuit sees impedance Z = 1/(jωC), causing current to lead the voltage by 90 degrees, with the response depending on frequency.

Applications include capacitive sensors and coupling. Capacitive sensing underpins touch screens, proximity sensors, and other inputs that detect changes in capacitance due to touch, approach, or the presence of a dielectric object. Capacitive coupling is used to transfer signals between circuits without direct electrical contact. In RC networks, capacitance plays a key role in filtering and timing.

Measurement and variability are important aspects of kapazitiv phenomena. Capacitance is measured with LCR meters or impedance spectroscopy, and it can vary with geometry, dielectric material, temperature, and humidity. Materials with high dielectric constants or liquids with significant relative permittivity exhibit pronounced kapazitiv effects and are common in capacitor design and dielectric studies.

See also: capacitance; dielectrics; capacitive sensing; impedance. The term contrasts with inductive and resistive properties, particularly in frequency-dependent contexts.