Briefly explain what capacitor is?

Question

this in an electronic path Question. I hope someone can help on this question.

Answer 1

A capacitor is an electrical component that stores and discharges electricity.

When an alarm circuit keeps beeping even after the crooks have cut the power you can thank a capacitor.

Simply put a capacitor lets electrical current to come into and build up a standing charge, while it is doing this then it will continue to allow a smaller current flow. Once the capacitor is charged then after the incoming current is cut, or when the capacitor reaches its maximum capability it discharges.

I suggest you check out Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor
Check the hydraulic analogy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor#Hydraulic_model for the most simple explanation, and remember that in this analogy voltate = pressure.
And this site: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/caps/caps.html
for an in depth discussion.
How Stuff Works is also a good source: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm

Yes, some capacitors are formed out of two electrical plates, but the cermanic ones are formed out of two metalic clays that are bonded together and the standard ones that aren't cermanic have two plates wrapped in layers of plastics. Other capacitors are made with metal foil, Tantalum, and superconduciting capactiors are made of my exotic materials like aerogel or carbon nanofibers.

The abiltiy of a capactior is measured in impedance of the capacitor measured in Farads.

Check the hydrolic anology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor#Hydraulic_model for the most simple explaniton.

Answer 2

A simple capacitor is to conductive plates seperated by a dielectric material,
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in a DC circuit, the Voltage pressure will push electrons and cause them to build up on the plate that is connected to the negative lead of the circuit, untill it is fully charged. At that point it will effectively stop the current through it.

Since voltages while hooked up parallel to the circuit will remain constant,in a parallel hookup the capaciter would charge up, and discharge slightly if the cuircuits voltage dropped, keeping a steadier voltage throughout the circuit. (thats why people use them parallel to their amp in a car stereo)

In an AC circuit (alternating current), I dont beleive it would fully charge up, because the alternating directions of the current would charge and discharge each plate every cycle of the sine wave, however it does change the electrical properties of the circuit by adding capacitive reaction, which could help increase the efficiency of a circuit with higher inductive loads such as motors.

Answer 3

A capacitor is an electrical device that can store energy in the electric field between a pair of closely-spaced conductors (called 'plates'). When voltage is applied to the capacitor, electric charges of equal magnitude, but opposite polarity, build up on each plate.

Capacitors are used in electrical circuits as energy-storage devices. They can also be used to differentiate between high-frequency and low-frequency signals and this makes them useful in electronic filters.

Capacitors are occasionally referred to as condensers. This is now considered an antiquated term.

Answer 4

a capacitor is an electronic component that stores energy when you charge it but when you break the circuit that is charging it and complete it with a circuit that has no electricity running through it it will discharge (the amount of time it takes for it to charge and discharge depends on the caps time constant)

the simplest capacitors ever invented were called leyden jars and they were invented in the 18th century they require water in order to work though check out the sources links for more information

Answer 5

a capacitor is two plates separated in a circuit which stores charge, charge which, when the power source is switched off, can e used to power the circuit. when combined with a resistor you get and RC (Resistor Capacitor) circuit, hence the name RC cars for example

Answer 6

confident. Neon lighting fixtures fixtures are a physically powerful occasion. electric charge excites the Neon atoms, making their electrons leap into new orbits, then mild is released whilst they fall decrease back into their unique orbit. something can habit electrical energy in case you utilize a severe sufficient voltage that enables the electrons to go around. Even glass...even though it might in all probability would desire to be in plasma state.

Answer 7

Two electrical conductors separated from each other by an insulator. It is normally used to store electrical charge.