Index / Electronic Components / Capacitor
Electronic Components
Capacitor
Energy stored in an electric field
Two conducting plates separated by a dielectric — apply a voltage and charge accumulates without crossing the gap. Capacitors smooth power supplies, couple AC signals, set timing constants with resistors, and store energy for camera flashes and EV regenerative braking. Working voltage and ESR matter as much as the capacitance value itself.
Key specifications
Unit
Farad (F) · Q = CV
Range
~1 pF (ceramic) → 5,000 F (super-cap)
Types
Ceramic · Electrolytic · Film · Tantalum
First built
1745 · Leyden jar
Sheet 003 · Plate 1 of 1 · 1:1 infographic
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