Capacitors

Construction

A capacitor consists of two conductors called 'plates' separated by an

insulator called the 'dielectric'. These two plates are separated by a piece of
material called the dielectric and it is technically an insulator. Various
materials are used. The materials that are used will impact the capacitance
significantly.

ESTABLISH AN ELECTRIC FIELD CAPACITANCE

When a voltage is applied to the plates of the capacitor they become charged
according to the polarity of the applied voltage. The electric filed is formed
between the plates.

A capacitor act as a load when it is being charge but act as a power source when it discharges.

 The ability of a capacitor to store energy in the form of an

electric field is called capacitance. It is measured in the unit of
the Farad (F).
 When capacitor are used in Alternating current (AC) circuits they
oppose the changes in voltage by “filling in” or “smoothening” of
the AC waves.
 The ability of a capacitor to oppose the changes of an AC current
is known as capacitive reactance
 Capacitive reactance can be calculated using this formula: X C =
1/(2πfC) and is measured in ohms.
 Capacitive reactance decreases with increasing frequency. In
other words, the higher the frequency, the less it opposes (the
more it “conducts”) the AC flow of electrons.
Factors affecting Capacitance

Plate Area. Increasing the plate area will increase the charge size
Plate separation. If plate are further separated the ability to store
charge deceases.
Type of Dielectric Material. Different types of dielectric materials
have different ability to hold a field of electrostatic field. Some
common type of dielectric are:
- Mica
- Glass
- Castor oil
- Air
- Wood

Capacitors may be made polarized, non-polarized and variable

depending on their construction. The circuit symbols are:

Some of the most common type of polarized capacitors are called electrolytic capacitors. Connecting
them in opposite direction can lead to their destruction and a small explosion.

Series and Parallel capacitors

Series

When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance is less than
any one of the series capacitors’ individual capacitances.
Parallel

In parallel the capacitance of capacitors simply add up.

Practice

1) A capacitor rated at 2.2 microfarads is subjected to a sinusoidal AC

voltage of 24 volts RMS, at a frequency of 60 hertz. Write the formula
for calculating capacitive reactance (XC), and solve for current
through the capacitor.

2) Determine the current flowing through the circuit.

3) At what frequency does a 33 μF capacitor have 20 Ω of reactance?

Write the formula for solving this, in addition to calculating the
frequency.

4) As a general rule, capacitors oppose change in

(choose: voltage or current), and they do so by . . . (complete
the sentence).
Based on this rule, determine how a capacitor would react to a
constant AC voltage that increases in frequency. Would an
capacitor pass more or less current, given a greater frequency?
Explain your answer.
As a general rule, capacitors oppose change in voltage, and they do
so by producing a current.
A capacitor will pass a greater amount of AC current, given the same
AC voltage, at a greater frequency.

5)