How Does Capacitor and Resistor Parallel Impedance Vary with Frequency?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the impedance of capacitors and resistors in parallel and how it varies with frequency. The impedance of a capacitor is given by 1/(jωC), allowing higher frequencies to pass more easily. When combined with a resistor in parallel, the equivalent impedance is calculated as |Z_eq| = RωC/√(R² + (ωC)²), which should also decrease at higher frequencies. Participants clarify the correct formula for impedance and discuss the implications for circuit design, particularly in high-pass filter applications. The conversation emphasizes the relationship between frequency and impedance in audio circuits.
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I know the impedance of a capacitor is,

<br /> \frac {1}{j \omega C}<br />

so in an audio circuit it let's more high frequency energy through, which is obvious looking at the equation. When a capacitor is in parallel with a fixed resistor, I worked out the magnitude of the impedance of the pair to be

<br /> \frac{R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + (\omega C)^2}}<br />

and this pair should still have lower impedance at higher frequencies, right?
So my question is, how does this expression reflect this? I just can't see it.
 
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flash said:
I know the impedance of a capacitor is,

<br /> \frac {1}{j \omega C}<br />

so in an audio circuit it let's more high frequency energy through, which is obvious looking at the equation. When a capacitor is in series with a fixed resistor, I worked out the magnitude of the impedance of the pair to be

<br /> \frac{R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + (\omega C)^2}}<br />

and this pair should still have lower impedance at higher frequencies, right?
So my question is, how does this expression reflect this? I just can't see it.

first caps and inductors have reactance, the resistance plus reactance is the impedance of the circuit. just correcting a nomenclature mistake.

second i have no idea how you got that for the total impedance of the circuit

<br /> V=I|Z|

<br /> |Z|= \sqrt{R^2 + (\chi _c)^2}}
<br /> |Z|= \sqrt{R^2 + (\frac{1}{j \omega C})^2}}<br />

as you see with omega in the denominator as freq goes down impedance goes to infinity
 
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ice109 said:
second i have no idea how you got that for the total impedance of the circuit
ahhh i meant parallel, sorry

I got it like this:
<br /> \frac {1}{Z_eq} = \frac {1}{R} + \frac {1}{j \omega C}<br />

<br /> Z_eq = \frac {R \omega C}{R + j \omega C}<br />

<br /> |Z_eq| = \frac {R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + ( \omega C )^2}}<br />

Thanks for your help with this.

edit: should the second term in the first equation be jwC, not 1 on? could be my problem :confused:
 
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flash said:
ahhh i meant parallel, sorry

I got it like this:
<br /> \frac {1}{Z_eq} = \frac {1}{R} + \frac {1}{j \omega C}<br />

<br /> Z_eq = \frac {R \omega C}{R + j \omega C}<br />

<br /> |Z_eq| = \frac {R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + ( \omega C )^2}}<br />

Thanks for your help with this.

edit: should the second term in the first equation be jwC, not 1 on? could be my problem :confused:
a high pass filter is a cap and a resistor in series though
 
The circuit I'm working on has a number of capacitors that can be switched in parallel with a resistor to give different frequency response depending on which one you select.

I reworked the above as:
<br /> \frac {1}{z_{eq}} = \frac {1}{R} + j \omega C<br />

which gives
<br /> |z_{eq}| = \frac {R}{\sqrt{1 + ( \omega CR)^2}}<br />
 
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