capacitor
Sign in to saveA 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
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.