Capacitors are components on an electrical circuit that stored
electrical charge, which is also referred to as a component that adds
capacitance to a circuit. The physical form of capacitors vary widely,
with most capacitors containing at least two electrical conductors
separated by a dielectric medium.
Aconductor
may be a thin film, a foil or even an electrolyte. Materials that are
mostly used as dielectric in a circuit are usually glass, paper,
ceramics etc.
When
a voltage is applied accros the terminal of a capacitor, an electric
field develop a cross the dielectric which causes a net positive charge
to develop at one terminal of the circuit and the net negative charge to
develop at the other terminal of the circuit.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
A
capacitor consist of two conductors which is separated by a non-
conductive material. This non-conductive material can either be an
isulator or a vacuum.
An
ideal conductor is characterized by a constant capacitance which is
defined by the ratio of positive or negative charge to the voltage
between them.
A capacitance of one farad means that one column of charge of one each conductor causes a voltage movement in the circuit.
In
order to increase the charge and voltage on a capacitor, work must be
done by an external power to move a charge from negative terminal to a
positive terminal.