A capacitor is an electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy in a circuit. It consists of two conductive plates (often made of metal) separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric.
When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field develops across the dielectric, causing an accumulation of electric charges of opposite polarity on each plate. This stored energy can then be released when the circuit requires it.
What is an Electric Field?
- An electric field is a region of space around an electrically charged particle (electrons, protons, ions) or object in which an electric force is exerted on other charged particles or objects.
What is Capacitance?
- Capacitance is a measure of a capacitor’s ability to store electrical charge. It quantifies the amount of electric charge a capacitor can hold per unit of voltage applied across its plates.
Unit: The capacitance is measured in farads (F), which represents the capacity to store one coulomb of electric charge when a potential difference of one volt is applied.