
A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy in an electric field between two conductive plates. It is used to store energy temporarily, smooth out fluctuations in power, or filter unwanted signals in a circuit. The capacitance of a capacitor is measured in Farads and is determined by the surface area of the plates and the distance between them.
There are several types of capacitors, including:
- Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors: Used for power supply filtering and energy storage.
- Ceramic Capacitors: Small and inexpensive, used for bypassing, coupling, and decoupling.
- Film Capacitors: Offer high stability, low dissipation factor, and low dielectric absorption.
- Tantalum Electrolytic Capacitors: Used in high-performance applications due to their high stability and low equivalent series resistance (ESR).
- Supercapacitors: Also known as ultracapacitors, they have high capacitance and can release energy rapidly.
- Variable Capacitors: Used to adjust the capacitance value in a circuit, for example, in tuning circuits.
- Glass Capacitors: Offer high stability, low dissipation factor, and good insulation properties
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- Silver Mica Capacitors: High stability and low tolerance make them ideal for RF and microwave applications.
- Lithium Ion Capacitors: Offer