b.

Capacitor:

A capacitor is a two-terminal electronics device that can store energy in the form of an I

electric charge. It consists of two electrical conductors that are separated by a

distance. The space between the conductors may be filled by vacuum or with an
insulating material known as a dielectric.

The abili~ of the capacitor to store charges is known as capacitanc~. Its SI unit is Farad
(F).

Capacitors store energy by holding apart pairs of opposite charges. The simplest design for
.a capacitor is a parall~l plate, which consists of two metal plates with a gap between them.

Types of Capacitor

. '
Ca >acitor

Fixed Capacitor
.,
Variable Capacitor
•
McdwunDy
Controlled

1'
Eltetri\-.Uy
Controllcc.l
Polarized Non-Polarized

~
Mica Capacitor
~/tl
Film Capacitor

..
I
. _,, J

'
.

' '
Electrolytic C11pacltor Suf)C'r Ca1,adtor

- ==-- ~ ,_
Aluminium
E-C111,11citor
Tuntalum
E-C111,11citur
Niobium
E-Ca1;acitor EDLC Sup~r Capacitor

"
Pstudo Suprr Capadtor

(
 How does a Capacitor Work?

When we connect a DC voltage source ac th •

one plate is connected to the
positive end (plate I) and the other t th ross . e capacitor, II)
• . 0 e negative end (plate Wh •
battery is applied across the capacitor plate I bee •• •• en the potential of the
current tries to flow through the ca , ·t th ome pos1t1ve With respect to plate IL The
. pact or at e steady-stat di • fr •
plate to its negative plate. But it cannot flow due th e c~n tion om its positive
insulating material. to e separation of the plates with an

Plate I
+++ +++
+
V V --•---
-+--Diele ctric
- --- --- Plate II

A Battery is Connected Across A Parallel Plate Capacitor

An electric field appears across the capacitor. The positive plate (plate I) accumulates
positive charges from the battery, and the ·negative plate (plate II) accumulates negative
charges from the battery. After a point, the capacitor holds the maximum amount of
charge as per its capacitance with respect to this voltiige. This time span is called
the charging time of tl,e capacitor.

When the battery is removed from the capacitor, the two plates hold a negative and
positive charge for a certain time. Thus, the capacitor acts as a source of electrical energy.
If these plates are connected to a load, the current tloWS to the load from Plate I to Plate II
until all the charges are dis~ipated from both plates.· This time span is known as
the discltarging time oftlte capacito~-
◄
Current

Load --- -
v...

- ► current
Capacito r Acting As A Source of Electrical Energy •
Amount of charge stored in capacitor

Charge Capacitance Voltage

X (Volts)
(Coulombs) (Farads)

Example:

1000 + 1000000 = 0.001 F (Conversion of µF to F)

Charge = .Capacitance X Voltage
= 0.001 X 50
= 0.05 Coulombs
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