2007-02-15 17:56:38 · 4 answers · asked by anusha g 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
the main idea behind a capacitor is that it passes the AC current and blocks the the DC. when it blocks the DC as others have told they hold electricity inside them. based on these two properties capacitors used as filters, couplers, decouplers, integrators, voltage doublers, oscillators and so on.
2007-02-15 19:15:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A capacitor is able to store electronic energy, similar to a battery. However, the capacitor is able to be charged much faster, and also releases this energy faster.
Capacitors are often used to "smoothen" a current. For example: If you have an expensive electrical device, that gets "dirty" power - i.e. an electrical current, that has spikes (is stronger, than the device needs) or even drops for short amounts of time, the capacitor will either store the spike or give power, when the current drops.
2007-02-15 18:14:56 · answer #2 · answered by Arminator 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It can hold an electronic charge until you want to release it, direct it to a component attached to your power source. They have different capacitance, the magnitude of the charge on the plates within the capacitor. Some are able to hold more, some less.
2007-02-15 18:02:18 · answer #3 · answered by Faerie loue 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The two main purposes of a capacitor are to store a charge, or to filter.
2007-02-16 01:40:39 · answer #4 · answered by joshnya68 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋