Capacitor
What is capacitor
Capacitor pictures
Capacitance
Capacitance of plates capacitor
Capacitors in series
Capacitors in parallel
Capacitor's current
Capacitor's voltage
Energy of capacitor
AC circuit of capacitor
Capacitor types
How capacitor works
Capacitor symbols
What is capacitor
Capacitor is an electronic component that stores electric charge. The capacitor is made of 2 close conductors
(usually plates) that are separated by a dielectric material. The plates accumulate electric charge when
connected to power source. One plate accumulates positive charge and the other plate accumulates negative
charge.
The capacitance is the amount of electric charge that is stored in the capacitor at voltage of 1 Volt.
The capacitance is measured in units of Farad [F] (usually in microfarad [F] ).
Capacitor disconnects current in DC circuits and short circuit in AC circuits.
Capacitor pictures
Capacitor Symbols
Capacitor schematic symbols of electrical & electronic circuit diagram - capacitor, polarized capacitor, variable
capacitor.
Table of capacitor symbols
Symbol Name Description
Capacitor
Capacitor is used to store electric
charge. It acts as short circuit with AC
and open circuit with DC.
Capacitor
Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Variable Capacitor Adjustable capacitance
Capacitance
The capacitance (C) of the capacitor is equal to the electric charge (Q) divided by the voltage (V):
C is the capacitance in Farad [F].
Q is the electric charge that is stored on the capacitor, in Coulomb [C].
V is the voltage between the capacitor's plates in volts [V].
Capacitance of plates capacitor
The capacitance (C) of the plates capacitor is equal to the permittivity () times the plate area (A) divided by
the gap or distance between the plates (d):
C is the capacitance of the capacitor, in Farad [F].
is the permittivity of the capacitor's dialectic material, in Farad per meter [F/m].
A is the area of the capacitor's plate in square meters [m
2
].
d is the distance between the capacitor's plates, in meters [m].
Farad (F)
Farad is the unit of capacitance. It is named after Michael Faraday.
The farad measures how much electric charge is accumulated on the capacitor.
1 farad is the capacitance of a capacitor that has charge of 1 coulomb when applied voltage drop of 1 volt.
1F = 1C / 1V
Table of capacitance values in Farad
name symbol conversion example
picofarad pF 1pF=10
-12
F C=10pF
nanofarad nF 1nF=10
-9
F C=10nF
microfarad F 1F=10
-6
F C=10F
millifarad mF 1mF=10
-3
F C=10mF
farad F C=10F
kilofarad kF 1kF=10
3
F C=10kF
megafarad MF 1MF=10
6
F C=10MF
Capacitors in series
The total capacitance of capacitors in series, C1,C2,C3,.. :
Capacitors in parallel
The total capacitance of capacitors in parallel, C1,C2,C3,.. :
C
Total
= C
1
+C
2
+C
3
+...
Capacitor's current
The capacitor's momentary current ic(t) is equal to the capacitance of the capacitor, times the derivative of the
momentary capacitor's voltage vc(t):
Capacitor's voltage
The capacitor's momentary voltage vc(t) is equal to the initial voltage of the capacitor, plus 1/C times the
integral of the momentary capacitor's current ic(t) over time t:
Energy of capacitor
E
C
= CV
2
/ 2
AC circuits
Angular frequency
= 2 f
- angular velocity measured in radians per second [rad/s]
f - frequency measured in hertz [Hz].
Capacitor's reactance
Capacitor's impedance
Cartesian form:
Polar form:
Z
C
= X
C
-90
Capacitor types
Variable capacitor Variable capacitor has changeable capacitance
Electrolytic capacitor
Electrolytic capacitors are used when high capacitance is needed.
Most of the electrolytic capacitors are polarized
Spherical capacitor Spherical capacitor has a sphere shape
Power capacitor Power capacitors are used in high voltage power systems.
Ceramic capacitor
Ceramic capacitor has ceramic dielectric material. Has high voltage
functionality.
Tantalum capacitor Tantalum oxide dielectric material. Has high capacitance
Mica capacitor High accuracy capacitors
Paper capacitor Paper dielectric material
How a capacitor works