File:Capacitors_(7189597135).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
capacitor
Also known as cap, electronic capacitor
A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy by accumulating electric charges on two closely spaced surfaces that are insulated from each other. It is a passive electronic component with two terminals. A capacitor was originally known as a condenser, a term still encountered in a few compound names, such as the condenser microphone. Colloquially, a capacitor may be called a cap.
AI overview
A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy by building up electric charges on two insulated surfaces placed close together. Capacitors are fundamental components in electronic circuits, where they serve various purposes like storing energy temporarily and filtering electrical signals.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Electronic component.name
- Capacitor
- Electronic component.image
- Capacitors (7189597135).jpg
- Electronic component.type
- Passive
- Electronic component.working_principle
- Capacitance
- Electronic component.terminal_number
- 2
- Electronic component.symbol
- 50px
via Wikipedia infobox
Described at
Capacitors and Ohm's law - BBC Bitesize
Identify, explain, and select capacitors; understand capacitance units; grasp current, voltage, and resistance relationships; and perform Ohm’s law calculations.
bbc.co.uk →Add subjects, save guides and continue where you left off with your BBC account. 1. Electrolytic capacitors – these are polarised, so they have a positive and a negative leg. Usage : applications requiring large capacitance values, such as timing circuits and power supplies. 2. Ceramic capacitors – these are non-polarised. Usage : applications like signal smoothing. Choose capacitors based on the required capacitance, voltage rating, and whether the circuit requires a polarised or non-polarised capacitor. Stage 1 : The 9V battery sends electrical charge to the capacitor's plates, allowing it to store energy (like filling a tank). The capacitor continues charging until it's full. Stage 2: When the SPDT switchcloseSingle pole, double throw (SPDT) switchA type of electrical switch that allows you to connect a single input to one of two outputs. It has has one input terminal (the pole) and two output terminals (the throws). is manually pressed, the battery is now cut off from the rest of the circuit. However, the stored energy from the capacitor can now flow through the circuit, making the LED light up briefly. The resistor will control the discharge rate of the capacitor by limiting the flow of current through the circuit. If you know any two of these quantities, you can calculate the third.
~90 min read
Article
63 sectionsContents
- History
- Theory of operation
- Overview
- Hydraulic analogy
- Circuit equivalence at short-time limit and long-time limit
- Parallel-plate capacitor
- Interleaved capacitor
- Energy stored in a capacitor
- Current–voltage relation
- RC circuits
- AC circuits
- Laplace circuit analysis (s-domain)
- Circuit analysis
- Capacitors in parallel
- Voltage distribution in parallel-to-series networks
- Non-ideal behavior
- {{anchor|sparking}}Breakdown voltage
- Equivalent circuit
- Simplified RLC series model
- Q factor
- Ripple current
- Capacitance instability
- Current and voltage reversal
- Dielectric absorption
- Leakage
- Electrolytic failure from disuse
- Lifespan
- Capacitor types
- Dielectric materials
- Voltage-dependent capacitors
- Frequency-dependent capacitors
- Styles
- Capacitor markings
- Marking codes for larger parts
- Three-/four-character marking code for small capacitors
- {{anchor|2-char-capacitor-marking-code}}Two-character marking code for small capacitors
- RKM code
- Historical
- Applications
- Energy storage
- Digital memory
- Pulsed power and weapons
- Power conditioning
- Power-factor correction
- Suppression and coupling
- Signal coupling
- Decoupling
- High-pass and low-pass filters
- Noise suppression, spikes, and snubbers
- Motor starters
- Signal processing
- Tuned circuits
- Sensing
- Oscillators
- Producing light
- Hazards and safety
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Further reading
- External links
A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy by accumulating electric charges on two closely spaced surfaces that are insulated from each other. It is a passive electronic component with two terminals. A capacitor was originally known as a condenser, a term still encountered in a few compound names, such as the condenser microphone. Colloquially, a capacitor may be called a cap.
The utility of a capacitor depends on its capacitance. While some capacitance exists between any two electrical conductors in proximity in a circuit, a capacitor is a component designed specifically to add capacitance to some part of the circuit.