A capacitor is an electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy in the form of an electric field. It acts like a temporary battery but charges and discharges much faster.
⚙️ Basic Function of a Capacitor
A capacitor:
- Stores energy when connected to a power source.
- Releases energy when the circuit requires it.
- It has two conductive plates separated by an insulating material (called a dielectric).
🔌 How It Works
Charging:
- When connected to a voltage source, electrons accumulate on one plate (negative side), and the other plate loses electrons (positive side).
- This creates an electric field between the plates.
Discharging:
When the power source is removed and the circuit is closed, the stored energy flows out of the capacitor into the circuit.
🧮 Key Formula
- The ability of a capacitor to store charge is called capacitance (C), measured in farads (F)
Q=C×V
- Q = charge (coulombs)
- C = capacitance (farads)
- V = voltage across the plates (volts)
🔧 Main Functions of a Capacitor
- Function Description
- Energy storage Temporarily stores energy for use later (like smoothing out power supplies)
- Filtering Blocks DC and allows AC to pass (used in signal filtering and coupling)
- Timing Used in combination with resistors in timers and oscillators
- Power conditioning Smooths voltage fluctuations in power supplies (removes voltage ripple)
- Motor starting Provides an initial energy boost to start motors
🧠 Quick Analogy
- Think of a capacitor like a water tank:
- You fill it with water (charge).
- When needed, you release the water (discharge).
- But it can’t store as much as a dam (battery) — it’s fast and temporary.
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