Catholic University

Name: Edgar Zuñiga Hurtado Level: VI Professor: MA John Moscoso

Capacitors

Function

Capacitors store electric charge. They are used with resistors in timing circuits because it takes time for a capacitor to
fill with charge. They are used to smooth varying DC supplies by acting as a reservoir of charge. They are also used in
filter circuits because capacitors easily pass AC (changing) signals but they block DC (constant) signals.

Capacitance

This is a measure of a capacitor's ability to store charge. A large capacitance means that more charge can be stored.
Capacitance is measured in farads, symbol F. However, 1F is very large, so prefixes are used to show the smaller
values.
Three prefixes (multipliers) are used, µ (micro), n (nano) and p (pico):

• µ means 10-6 (millionth), so 1000000µF = 1F

• n means 10-9 (thousand-millionth), so 1000nF = 1µF
• p means 10-12 (million-millionth), so 1000pF = 1nF

Capacitor values can be very difficult to find because there are many types of capacitors with different labelling
systems! There are many types of capacitors, but they can be split into two groups, polarised and unpolarised. Each
group has its own circuit symbol.

Polarised capacitors (large values, 1µF +)

Examples: Circuit symbol:

Electrolytic Capacitors

Electrolytic capacitors are polarised, and they must be connected the correct way round, at least one of their leads
will be marked + or -. They are not damaged by heat when soldering.

There are two designs of electrolytic capacitors; axial where the leads are attached to each end (220µF in picture)
and radial where both leads are at the same end (10µF in picture). Radial capacitors tend to be a little smaller and
they stand upright on the circuit board.

It is easy to find the value of electrolytic capacitors because they are clearly printed with their capacitance and
voltage rating. The voltage rating can be quite low (6V for example) and it should always be checked when selecting
an electrolytic capacitor. It the project parts list does not specify a voltage, choose a capacitor with a rating which is
greater than the project's power supply voltage. 25V is a sensible minimum for most battery circuits.
 Tantalum Bead Capacitors

Tantalum bead capacitors are polarised and have low voltage ratings like electrolytic
capacitors. They are expensive but very small, so they are used where a large capacitance is
needed in a small size.
Modern tantalum bead capacitors are printed with their capacitance, voltage and
polarity in full.
However older ones use a colour-code system which has two stripes (for the two
digits) and a spot of colour for the number of zeros to give the value in µF.
The standard colour code is used, but for the spot, grey is used to mean ×
0.01 and white means × 0.1 so that values of less than 10µF can be shown. A third colour stripe
near the leads shows the voltage (yellow 6.3V, black 10V, green 16V, blue 20V, grey 25V, white
30V, pink 35V). The positive (+) lead is to the right when the spot is facing you: 'when the spot is
in sight, the positive is to the right'.

For example: blue, grey, black spot means 68µF

For example: blue, grey, white spot means 6.8µF
For example: blue, grey, grey spot means 0.68µF

Unpolarised capacitors (small values, up to 1µF)

Examples: Circuit symbol:

Small value capacitors are unpolarised and may be connected either way round. They are not damaged by heat when
soldering, except for one unusual type (polystyrene). They have high voltage ratings of at least 50V, usually 250V or
so. It can be difficult to find the values of these small capacitors because there are many types of them and several
different labelling systems!

Many small value capacitors have their value printed but without a multiplier, so you need to use experience to work
out what the multiplier should be!

For example, 0.1 means 0.1µF = 100nF.

Sometimes the multiplier is used in place of the decimal point:

For example: 4n7 means 4.7nF.

Capacitor Number Code

A number code is often used on small capacitors where printing is difficult:

• the 1st number is the 1st digit,

• the 2nd number is the 2nd digit,
• the 3rd number is the number of zeros to give the capacitance in pF.
• Ignore any letters - they just indicate tolerance and voltage rating.

For example: 102 means 1000pF = 1nF (not 102pF!)

For example: 472J means 4700pF = 4.7nF (J means 5% tolerance).

Capacitor Colour Code

 Colour Code
Colour Number
Black 0
A colour code was used on
Brown 1
polyester capacitors for many
Red 2
years. It is now obsolete, but of
course there are many still around. The colours should be read like the resistor Orange 3

code, the top three colour bands giving the value in pF. Ignore the 4th band Yellow 4
(tolerance) and 5th band (voltage rating). Green 5
Blue 6

For example: brown, black, orange means 10000pF = 10nF = 0.01µF. Violet 7

Note that there are no gaps between the colour bands, so 2 identical bands Grey 8

actually appear as a wide band. White 9

For example: wide red, yellow means 220nF = 0.22µF.

Polystyrene Capacitors

This type is rarely used now. Their value (in pF) is normally printed without units. Polystyrene capacitors can be
damaged by heat when soldering (it melts the polystyrene!) so you should use a heat sink (such as a crocodile clip).
Clip the heat sink to the lead between the capacitor and the joint.

Real capacitor values (the E3 and E6 series)

You may have noticed that capacitors are not available with every possible value, for example 22µF and 47µF are
readily available, but 25µF and 50µF are not!

Why is this? Imagine that you decided to make capacitors every 10µF giving 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and so on. That seems
fine, but what happens when you reach 1000? It would be pointless to make 1000, 1010, 1020, 1030 and so on because
for these values 10 is a very small difference, too small to be noticeable in most circuits and capacitors cannot be
made with that accuracy.

To produce a sensible range of capacitor values you need to increase the size of the 'step' as the value increases. The
standard capacitor values are based on this idea and they form a series which follows the same pattern for every
multiple of ten.

The E3 series (3 values for each multiple of ten)

10, 22, 47, ... then it continues 100, 220, 470, 1000, 2200, 4700, 10000 etc.
Notice how the step size increases as the value increases (values roughly double each time).

The E6 series (6 values for each multiple of ten)

10, 15, 22, 33, 47, 68, ... then it continues 100, 150, 220, 330, 470, 680, 1000 etc.
Notice how this is the E3 series with an extra value in the gaps.

The E3 series is the one most frequently used for capacitors because many types cannot be made with very accurate
values.

Variable capacitors

Variable capacitors are mostly used in radio tuning circuits and they are sometimes called 'tuning capacitors'.
They have very small capacitance values, typically between 100pF and 500pF (100pF = 0.0001µF). The type
illustrated usually has trimmers built in (for making small adjustments - see below) as well as the main variable
capacitor.
Many variable capacitors have very short spindles which are not suitable for the standard knobs used for variable
resistors and rotary switches. It would be wise to check that a suitable knob is available before ordering a variable
capacitor.

Variable capacitors are not normally used in timing circuits because their capacitance is too small to be practical and
the range of values available is very limited. Instead, timing circuits use a fixed capacitor and a variable resistor if it is
necessary to vary the time period.
Trimmer capacitors

Trimmer capacitors (trimmers) are miniature variable capacitors. They are designed to be mounted directly onto the
circuit board and adjusted only when the circuit is built.

A small screwdriver or similar tool is required to adjust trimmers. The process of adjusting them requires patience
because the presence of your hand and the tool will slightly change the capacitance of the circuit in the region of the
trimmer!

Trimmer capacitors are only available with very small capacitances, normally less than 100pF. It is impossible to
reduce their capacitance to zero, so they are usually specified by their minimum and maximum values, for example 2-
10pF.

Trimmers are the capacitor equivalent of presents which are miniature variable resistors.
I. Read the paragraph above and answer the following questions.

1. Why are capacitors used with resistors in timing circuits? Because it takes time for a
capacitor to fill with charge.

2. What does a large capacitance mean and how is capacitance measured?

A large capacitance means that more charge can be stored. Capacitance is measured in farads, symbol F. The SI unit for
capacitance is the farad (F); named after the English physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867)

3. Why are prefixes used?

Prefixes are used to show the smaller values.

4. How many types of capacitors are there?

MOST USED CURRENTLY
There are many types of capacitors, but they can be split into two groups, polarised and unpolarised. Each group has its own
circuit symbol.

5. What are Electrolytic capacitors’ characteristics?

Electrolytic capacitors are polarised, and they must be connected the correct way round, at least one of their leads will be
marked + or -. They are not damaged by heat when soldering.
6. What is the difference between axial & radial capacitor?
There are two designs of electrolytic capacitors; axial where the leads are attached to each end (220µF in picture) and radial
where both leads are at the same end (10µF in picture). Radial capacitors tend to be a little smaller and they stand upright on
the circuit board.

7. What are the Tantalum bead capacitors’ characteristics?

Tantalum bead capacitors are polarised and have low voltage ratings like electrolytic capacitors. They are expensive but very
small, so they are used where a large capacitance is needed in a small size.

8. What does blue, grey, white spot mean?

means 6.8µF. The standard colour code is used, but for the spot, grey is used to mean × 0.01 and white means × 0.1
so that values of less than 10µF can be shown. A third colour stripe near the leads shows the voltage (yellow 6.3V, black
10V, green 16V, blue 20V, grey 25V, white 30V, pink 35V).

9. Why was a colour code used on polyester capacitors?

Because a colour code was used on polyester capacitors for many years. It is now obsolete, but of course there are many still
around. The colours should be read like the resistor code, the top three colour bands giving the value in pF. Ignore the 4th
band (tolerance) and 5th band (voltage rating).

10. Where are variable capacitors mostly used & why?

Variable capacitors are mostly used in radio tuning circuits and they are sometimes called 'tuning capacitors'. They have very
small capacitance values, typically between 100pF and 500pF (100pF = 0.0001µF).

II. FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING CIRCUITS

CIRCUIT No 1

Ra = 20//80 = 16
Ra = 20*80 / 20+80 = 16
Rb = 12//6 = 4
Rb 12*6 / 12+6 = 4
Rc = Ra + Rb = 16+4 = 20
Rd = ((15) ^- 1+ (20) ^- 1+(60) ^ - 1 = 7,5
Rd = 15 * 20 * 60 / (15*20) + (20*60) + (60*15) = 7,5
RT = 5 + 7,5 = 12,5

CIRCUIT No 2
Malla ∑v = 0
ɪ3 – ɪ2 = 8A
Malla 1

50V – 10*ɪ1 – 40 (ɪ1-ɪ2) = 0

Malla 2

40(ɪ2-ɪ1) – 12*ɪ 2 + 20 ɪ3 – 40V = 0

THERE ARE THREE EQUATIONS AND THREE UNKNOWN, IF IT CAN BE SOLVED 2) 50v – 10
ɪ2 – 40 ɪ1 + 40 ɪ2 = 0
- 40 ɪ1 + 30 ɪ2 = - 50
3) 40 ɪ2 – 40 ɪ1 – 12 ɪ2 + 20 ɪ3 = 40
- 40 ɪ1 + 28 ɪ2 + 20 ɪ3 = 40
WORK ON EQUATION TWO AND THREE TO ELIMINATE I1

- 40 ɪ1 + 30 ɪ2 = - 50
(-1)- 40 ɪ1 + 28 ɪ2 + 20 ɪ3 = 40

- 40 ɪ1 + 30 ɪ2 = - 50
40 ɪ1 - 28 ɪ2 - 20 ɪ3 = - 40
// 2 ɪ2 – 20 ɪ3 = - 90V DIVIDED FOR TWO

4) ɪ2 - 10 ɪ3 = -45V OF EQUATION ONE

ɪ3 - ɪ2 = 8 → ɪ3 - = 8 + ɪ2
WE REPLACE ONE IN FOUR

ɪ2 – 10(8 + ɪ2) = - 45V ɪ2 –

80 – 10 ɪ2 = - 45V -9 ɪ2 =
 + 35V ɪ2 = 35V / - 9 ɪ2 = -
3.89V

Vx = ɪ2 * R12Ω = (- 3.89) (12)

Vx = - 46,68 V

THE NEGATIVE SIGN MEANS THAT THE CURRENT TURNS IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION

CIRCUIT No 3

(Node 1)
15 V1/20 = 3 + V1 - V3/10 + V1 - V2/5
45 = 7V1 – 4V2 – 2V3 (Ecua 1)
(Node 2)
V1 - V2/5+ 4I0 - V2/5 = V2 - V3/5
I0 = v1 - V3/10 (Ecua 2)
0= 7v1 -15v2+ 3v3 (Ecua 3)
(Node 3)
3 + V1 - V3/5 + V2 - V3/5 = 0

-10= V1+ 2v2-5v3 (ecua 4)

use all the equations to make matrix and we will get the voltages

V1= -9.83 V V2=-4.98 V V3=1.95 V

III. Label the picture

Plastic insulation Negative charge Dielectric Aluminum Positive Charge Metal plate

1) Negative charge 2) Positive charge 3) Dielectric 4) Metal plate 5) Aluminum 6) Plastic insulation
 IV. Match True or False in the following sentences. If it is FALSE, EXPLAIN WHY?

1.Capacitors are used to smooth varying AC supplies. F

2.Capacitance is measured in Ohms, symbol O. F
3. Capacitor values can be very difficult to find. T_
4. The voltage rating can be quite high (45V for example) T
5.Blue, grey, grey spot means 0.68µF. T_
6.Polystyrene capacitors can be damaged by heat when soldering. T 7.Capacitors are available
with every possible value. T
8.The E3 series is the one most frequently used for capacitors. T
9.Trimmer capacitors (trimmers) are big variable capacitors. F_
10.Trimmer capacitors are only available with very small capacitances. F_

V. Identify the following definitions.

Transformer AC power supply Voltage regulator DC power supply Motor

Circuit Breaker Voltage Multipliers Inductor Fuse Battery

Voltage regulator an electronic circuit used to maintain a level amount of voltage in an

electrical line. It eliminates power surges, spikes and brownouts, which can cause harm to
sensitive electronics
inducto
I is a passive electronic component that stores energy in the form of a magnetic field.
r,
In its simplest form, an inductor consists of a wire loop or coil
Voltage Multipliers, are circuits designed to multiply the input voltage. The input voltage may
be doubled (voltage doubler), tripled (voltage tripler), quadrupled (voltage quadrupler), etc DC
power supply, typically takes the voltage from a wall outlet (mains supply, often 230v in
Europe) and lowers it to the desired voltage (e.g., 9vac).

AC powered unregulated power supply usually uses a transformer to convert the voltage from
the wall outlet (mains) to a different, nowadays usually lower, voltage. If it is
AC power supply used to produce DC, a rectifier is used to convert alternating voltage to a
pulsating direct voltage, followed by a filter, comprising one or more
capacitors, resistors, and sometimes inductors, to filter out (smooth) most of the pulsation
 Transformer A device used to transfer electric energy from one circuit to another, especially a
pair of multiply wound, inductively coupled wire coils that effect such a transfer with a change
in voltage, current, phase, or other electric characteristic.

Circuit Breaker, contains an element that heats, bends and triggers a spring which shuts the
circuit down. Once the element cools, and the problem is identified the breaker can be reset
and the power restored.

Motor, A device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, especially an
internal-combustion engine or an arrangement of coils and magnets that converts electric
current into mechanical power.

Fuse, it is a piece of wire, often in a casing that improves its electrical characteristics. If too
much current flows, the wire becomes hot and melts.

an Battery is alternative to a line-operated power supply; it is independent of the availability of

mains electricity, suitable for portable equipment and use in locations without mains
power

VI. Self - test

1. What is the approximate total capacitance of the parallel circuit

in Fig.

• a) 320pF

• b) 147pF

• c) 3.2nF

• d) 1.47nF
2. What is the approximate total capacitance of the series circuit
shown in Fig.

• a) 1.6nF

• b) 576pF

• c) 14.4pF

• d) 12pF
 3. When might it be necessary to use a 2 µF polyester capacitor
rather than a 2 µF electrolytic capacitor?

• a) When High Voltages are present

• b) When the capacitor passes AC

• c) In low temperature conditions

• d) When small size is the most important factor

4. When a DC voltage is applied to a capacitor in its uncharged

state: -

• a) The capacitor voltage will be maximum but fall after a short time

• b) The voltage will gradually rise at the same rate as the applied current

• c) Maximum current will flow immediately

• d) Maximum current will flow until the capacitor is fully charged

5.As a capacitor charges

• a) Electrons gather on the negative plate and displace electrons from the
positive plate.
b) Electron’s flow across the dielectric layer until the capacitor is fully charged
•
• c) Electrons gather on the positive plate displacing electrons from the
negative plate.

• d) Current only flows through the capacitor for a short time.

6. What type of capacitor does the symbol shown in Fig. 2.5.3 represent?

• a) A preset capacitor

• b) An electrolytic capacitor
• c) A variable capacitor
 • d) A ganged capacitor

7. Calculate the value of capacitance needed to store 1 µC of charge at 10V

• a) 10 µF

• b) 1nF

• c) 100nF

• d) 10nF

8. Refer to Fig. 2.5.4. If a voltage is applied across the capacitor network shown,
which individual capacitor has the largest voltage across it?

• a) C1

• b) C2
• c) C3

• d) C4

9. What is the approximate total capacitance of the network shown in Fig.

2.5.4?

• a) 13.05nF • b) 1.01uF

• c) 391pF

• d) 2.3nF

10. Capacitance is directly proportional to:

• a) The distance between the plates

• b) The area of the plates

• c) The dielectric strength

• d) The charge multiplied by the applied voltage

11. The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor can be increased by:
• increasing the charge
• decreasing the charge
• increasing the plate separation
• decreasing the plate separation

12. What is the voltage across the plates of the capacitor if the
capacitance is 10 uF and the Charge stored is 30 uC?
• 0.333 V
• 3V
• 300 V
13 ------------------------- is created out of two metal plates and an insulating
material called a dielectric.
• An inductor
• A capacitor
• A fixed resistor
• A variable resistor
14 In the capacitor, the dielectric can be made out of all sorts of ----------
materials and the plates are made of a --------------- material.
• conductive, insulating
• conductive, conductive
• insulating, conductive
• insulating, insulating

15 The figure to the right represents:

• Capacitor
• Diode
• Inductor
• Resistor

16 With respect to the capacitor, which relationship is true?

• C = Q×V
• V = C×Q
• V = Q/C
• Q = C/V

17 With respect to the capacitor, which relationship is true?

• C = Q/V
• V = C×Q
• Q = C/V
• Q = V/C
18 How is the capacitance (C) of a parallel-plate capacitor affected by the
charge on the plates?
• C depend on the charge on the plates
• C is vanished when there are plates
• C does not depend on the charge on the plates
• C is accumulated on one side only
19 How is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor affected by the
potential difference across the capacitor?
• C depend on the potential difference across the capacitor
• C does not depend on the potential difference across the capacitor
• C partially depend on the potential difference across the capacitor
• C sometime depend on the potential difference across the capacitor
20 How is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor affected by the area of
each plate?
• C is directly proportional to the area A of each plate
• C is inversely proportional to the area A of each plate
 • C is partially proportional to the area A of each plate
• C is fully proportional to the area A of each plate

21 How is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor affected by the

distance between the plates?
• C is directly proportional to the area A of each plate
• C is inversely proportional to the distance d between the plates
• C is partially proportional to the area A of each plate
• C is not affected by the area A of each plate
22 How is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor affected by filling the
space between the plates with an insulator?
• C stable when the space between the plates is filled with an insulator, εr >1
• C reduces when the space between the plates is filled with an insulator, εr >1
• C increases when the space between the plates is filled with an insulator, εr >1
• C fluctuate when the space between the plates is filled with an insulator, εr >1

23 If C is the capacitance in Farads, ϵ permittivity of the dielectric, an area of

plate overlaps in square meters and d distance between plates in meters,
then:
• C = ϵd/A
• C = A/ϵd
• C = ϵA/d
• C = d/ϵA
24 If the capacitance is 47μF, and the voltage difference across the capacitor
terminals is 6V, then the energy stored in that capacitor is:
• 846×10-6Joule
• 7.23×10-3 Joule
• 6.76×10-5Joule
• 5.94×10-2Joule

25 What is the voltage across the plates of the capacitor if the capacitance is
10 uF and the Charge stored is 30 uC?
• 0.333 V
• 3V
• 300 V

26 The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are 2.50mm apart, and each carries
a charge of magnitude 80.0nC. The plates are in vacuum. The electric field
between the plates has a magnitude of 4.00x10 6V/m. What is the potential
difference between the plates?
• 2.00x104V
• 1.75x104 P.D.
• 1.00x10-4P • 1.00x104V
• not solvable! because capacitor has no potential difference because it should have
an insulator in between.
27 from question 26:

The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are 2.50mm apart, and each

carries a charge of magnitude 80.0nC. The plates are in vacuum. The
electric field between the plates has a magnitude of 4.00x10 6V/m.

What is the area of each plates?

• 2.26x10-3cm2
• 2.26x10-3m2
• 22.6m2
• 2.26cm2
• none of the above
28 The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are 2.50mm apart, and each carries
a charge of magnitude 80.0nC. The plates are in vacuum. The electric field
between the plates has a magnitude of 4.00x10 6V/m.

• what is the capacitance?

• zero
• same as potential difference 4.00pF
• 8.99pF
• 8pF
• 8.00x10-9F
29 Is it correct to say that the capacitance is inversely proportional to the
area of the parallel plates?
• True
• False

30 Capacitor is a device use to store energy. Therefore a solar cell is a type

of capacitor.
• True
• False

31 When capacitors is arrange in series (3 capacitors), the equivalent

capacitance C is
• C = C 1 + C2 + C3
• 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3
• C = QV1 + QV2 + QV3 • C = CR1 + CR2 + CR3

32 When capacitors in parallel (3 capacitors), the equivalent capacitance is

• C = C 1 + C2 + C3
• C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3
• C = QV1 + QV2 + QV3
• C = QV1 + QV2 + QV3

33 IN QUESTION 11. A _ connection has 2 or more components connected

so that there is more than one path for current to flow.
• series
• parallel
• series/parrallel
• polarized

34 IN QUESTION 12. A _ connection has 2 or more components

connected so that there is only 1 path for current to flow
• perpendicular
• parallel/series
• polarized
• series

35 IN QUESTION 16. The total capacitance of two capacitors connected in

series is _ _ the lowest value capacitor
• equal to
• opposite
• greater than
• less than
36 IN QUESTION 17. Electrical prints use standard symbols and
abbreviations to show operation and device use.
• battery
• circuit
• switch
• capacitor
37 Each of the four capacitors shown is 500 mF. The voltmeter reads 1000V.
The magnitude of the charge on each capacitor plate is:
• 0.2 C
• 0.5 C
• 20 C
• 50 C

38 Two identical capacitors are connected in series and two, each identical to
the first, are connected in parallel. The equivalent capacitance of the
series connection is _ the equivalent capacitance of parallel connection.
• twice
• four times
• half
• one fourth

39.Capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in parallel and a potential

difference is applied to the combination. If the capacitor that is equivalent
to the combination has the same potential difference, then the charge on
the
equivalent capacitor is the same as:
• the charge on C1
• the sum of the charges on C1 and C2
• the difference of the charges on C1 and C2
• the product of the charges on C1 and C2
acitors are conneced in series, the equivalent
40. If 4μF and 2μF cap capacitor
is _.
• 1.33μF

• 0.75μF
• 6μF
• 2μF