how do capacitors and resistors act differently in a circuit?

Question

I can't find this anywhere on the net. I would like to know about 2 examples of this question asked though. appreciate all the help i can get!

Answer 1

At a basic level, capacitors are storage devices that store charge. The amount of time taken to fully charge a capacitor depends on the Capacitance (C) of the capacitor. The higher the C the longer it takes.

Resistors, however only limit the voltage/current that can pass through, there is very little time needed for the voltage to pass through.

When the frequency of a signal increases over a:

1. Capacitor - the current through the capacitor also increases.

2. Resistor - the current is not changed at all.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If the circuit carries a dc current then the capacitor blocks it while the resistor lets it through.

In alternating current circuits the capacitor blocks the current more or less according to the frequency of the ac current. The resistor acts in the same way as for dc current independently of the frequency.

Answer 3

Hmmm..if I remember this correctly
I seem to remember a resistor is called such because it provides resistance to current; hence, less current flows out than has flowed into the resistor. Naturally, different values supply different resistances, reducing current by different amount, based on the rating / value.

Capacitator in a DC circuit, current flows through the resistor as long as it is charging, then current flow stops until the capacitator is discharged. Once it is charging again then current flow continues. I may have this totally wrong, so others will come along and see what they say on this.

Answer 4

Capacitors store electricity, and resistors, as I understand.......do just that....resist electricity or slow it down. Best of luck to you.