Filter Basics Series Part 1: Resistance, Capacitance, Inductance, And Impedance

Every wire and every trace used for conducting signals on a printed circuit board (PCB) has elements of resistance, capacitance, and inductance. Since these parameters are often invisible, to truly understand each of these electrical properties, it is sometimes helpful to look at some more common physical analogies.

Let’s start with resistance. The mechanical analogy we can use for demonstrating resistance is friction. Figure 1 illustrates resistance, because as the person tries to pull the mass sitting on the ground, the ground causes friction and impedes this person’s attempt to move the mass.