picofarad

Picofarad (pF) is a unit of electrical capacitance in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as one trillionth of a farad, or 10^-12 F. The prefix pico- denotes 10^-12, and the term is abbreviated with the symbol pF. In practical terms, picofarads describe very small capacitances, while larger capacitances are expressed in nanofarads (nF) or microfarads (µF).

In electronics, pF values appear in components and circuits such as decoupling networks, RF tuners, and high-frequency integrated circuits. Ceramic, mica, and film capacitors often have values in the pF to tens of pF range, while many larger capacitors for power supplies are rated in nF or µF. The capacitance stored by a pF-scale capacitor interacts with circuit impedance at high frequencies, affecting timing, filtering, and signal integrity.

Measurement and context: Capacitance is measured with LCR meters or impedance analyzers. Designers annotate circuit loading and parasitic capacitances in picofarads, as these small values can influence oscillator frequencies, transmission lines, and matching networks. The range of pF used depends on the application, from device-scale input capacitances to precision timing networks.

The picofarad is one of several SI prefixes used with the farad. Related units include the femtofarad (fF), picofarad, nanofarad (nF), and microfarad, each representing successive powers of ten in capacitance.