Capacitors

 

1) Two metal plates separated by a nonconductive material (dielectric).

2) Capacitors can store and release voltage.

3) When capacitor is connected to DC voltage, a positive charge is "pulled" to one plate and "pushed" from the other.

4) Capacitors hold charge when disconnected from power supply.

4) Dielectric keeps charge from jumping from one plate to another.

5) Lightening is a giant capacitive charge discharging.

6) Amount of charge a capacitor can hold is measured in Farads.

7) 1 Farad is equal to 1 amp of current at 1 volt for 1 second.

8) 1 Farad is a lot of charge. Capacitors we work with are typically measured in Micro Farads (µF ) and Pico Farads (pF).

9) Examples - camera flash, lasers.

10) Common uses - decoupling noise, smoothing power supplies, timing.

 

 

 

 

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