Capacitors Flashcards
What is a capacitor?
The capacitor is a component that has the ability to store an electrical charge.
What is a Dielectric?
A dielectric is an insulating material used to separate the plates of a capacitor. This material cannot conduct current. Dielectric materials are glass, ceramics, mica, paper, teflon, oil, and air.
The capacitor is constructed from two plates separated by a ______.
The capacitor is constructed from two plates separated by a non-conducting dielectric.
The capacitor is able to store an electrical charge equal to what?
The applied voltage
Describe the three classifications of capacitors.
Non-polarized capacitors are general purpose capacitors used to isolate one circuit from another, block unwanted signals, and produce wave shapes. The schematic symbol for a non-polarized capacitor shows no difference between the positive and negative plate.
The electrolytic capacitor is polarity sensitive. A major use for this capacitor is filtering power supplies. The schematic symbol for an electrolytic capacitor shows a difference between the positive and negative plates.
The variable capacitor provides varying amounts of capacitance. Transmitters and receivers use variable capacitors. The schematic symbol for a variable capacitor contains an arrow indicating an adjustment.
The ability of a capacitor to store a charge is called what?
Capacitance
The ______ is the basic unit of capacitance.
The Farad is the basic unit of capacitance. One farad is very large. Microfarad or Picofarad are more common units of capacitance.
A one-millionth of a farad or 1 times 10-6 is what type of compacitor?
A microfarad
A one-trillionth of a farad or 1 times 10-12 is what type of compacitor?
A picofarad
The maximum voltage that can be steadily applied to the capacitor without the capacitor breaking down (shorting) is described as what?
The working voltage of a capacitor
What determines the amount of capacitance?
The amount of capacitance is determined by the combined factors of plate size, distance between plates, and the dielectric material.
Capacitors are identified by which two values?
farads and voltage
Capacitors are commonly identified by their _______.
a) type of dielectric
b) color
c) size
type of dielectric
When capacitor value is indicated by a manufacturer code, the first two numbers are the significant digits, while the last number is the _______.
multiplier
What is the unit of measurement for capacitance?
farads
