Capacitors
Capacitors
A Capacitor (pronounced: kəˈpasɪtər) is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores potential energy in an electric field. The effect of a capacitor is known as capacitance.
Etymology
The term 'capacitor' comes from the Latin word 'capacitas' which means 'capacity'. In the context of electronics, it refers to the capacity of a component to store charge.
Related Terms
- Electric Field: The region around a charged particle in which a force would be exerted on other charged particles.
- Potential Energy: The energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge, and other factors.
- Capacitance: The ability of a system to store an electric charge.
- Passive Component: A module that consumes, but does not produce, energy and that cannot amplify a signal.
Types of Capacitors
There are several types of capacitors, including:
- Ceramic Capacitor: A type of capacitor that uses a ceramic material as the dielectric.
- Film Capacitor: A capacitor that uses an insulating plastic film as the dielectric.
- Electrolytic Capacitor: A type of capacitor that uses an electrolyte to achieve a larger capacitance.
Applications
Capacitors have a wide range of applications in electronic and electrical systems. They are used in power supplies, signal processing circuits, and as energy storage devices in some devices.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Capacitors
- Wikipedia's article - Capacitors
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