How Capacitors Function in Electronic Circuits
A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It's essentially two conductive plates separated by an insulating material (dielectric).
How it Works:
- Charging: When a voltage is applied across the capacitor, electric charges accumulate on the plates, creating an electric field.
- Discharging: When the voltage source is removed, the stored charges flow out, creating a current.
Key Functions in Circuits:
- Energy Storage: Capacitors can store electrical energy for later use, like in camera flashes or power backup systems.
- Filtering: They can filter out unwanted electrical noise or AC components from a DC signal.
- Coupling: Capacitors can be used to transfer AC signals between circuit stages without passing DC components.
- Timing: They can be used in timing circuits, like oscillators and timers.
- Power Supply Smoothing: Capacitors can smooth out voltage fluctuations in power supplies.
Visual Representation:
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