What does it mean if current leads voltage?

This is a way of describing a positive or negative phase displacement. If you compare the sine waves of voltage and current in an AC signal fed into a capacitor you will find that the waveform of the current is 90 degrees ahead of the wave form for the voltage. Picture from wikipedia.

Why does voltage leads current in an inductor?

Phasor Representation The voltage across an inductor “leads” the current because of the Lenz’s law. Therefore, the phasor representing the current and voltage would be given as in. Again, the phasors are vectors rotating in counter-clockwise direction at a frequency ν (you can see that the voltage leads the current).

What is the voltage of capacitor?

Maximum Voltage – Every capacitor has a maximum voltage that it can handle. Otherwise, it will explode! You’ll find max voltages anywhere from 1.5V to 100V. Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) – Like any other physical material, the terminals on a capacitor have a very tiny amount of resistance.

Why is the current-voltage relationship important in a capacitor?

Significance of current-voltage relationship formula in a capacitor: From the current voltage relationship in a capacitor. We can understand a various facts which are listed below: a. Since and the voltage across a capacitor is proportional to the charge stored by the capacitor and not to the current flowing through the capacitor.

Why does current lead in capacitor and lags in inductor?

So, which means that the current leads the voltage by 90 degrees. which means that the current lags 90 degrees behind the voltage in the inductor. “As the capacitor opposes change in voltage…”

When does current lead voltage by 90 degree in capacitor?

At that point the charging (current) stops. As the voltage now starts to reduce, charge (current) now flows out of the capacitor and continues until the voltage reaches the negative peak, at which point the charging (current) again stops.

Can a capacitor have a positive current without voltage?

For a resistor, current can only be present if voltage is simultaneously across the resistor; for a capacitor, this isn’t always true. You can have current without voltage, positive current with positive voltage, or even positive current with negative voltage (depending, of course, on what the capacitor is connected to). – Zulu May 5 ’15 at 17:47