What principle describes the opposition of a capacitor to changes in voltage?

The principle that describes the opposition of a capacitor to changes in voltage is known as capacitive reactance. This term specifically pertains to how a capacitor impedes the flow of alternating current (AC) due to the capacitor's ability to store and release electrical energy. As the voltage across the capacitor changes, it reacts by charging and discharging, which creates a phase difference between the current and the voltage. This behavior is fundamental in AC circuits where capacitors manage voltage fluctuations effectively, thus their capacitive reactance is a critical aspect of their functioning.

In contrast, inductive reactance is associated with inductors and describes their opposition to changes in current, while Ohm's Law relates current, voltage, and resistance in circuits, and resistance itself is a general measurement of how much a material opposes the flow of electric current, regardless of whether the circuit components are capacitors or inductors.