Explanation of how a capacitor works?

[joker_900]

Could anyone give me a brief explanation of how a capacitor works? What does its I-V graph look like?

Thanks

 

[Hootenanny]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/capac.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/pplate.html#c1

 

[kyle8921]

for your question! A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, also known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied to the capacitor, one plate becomes positively charged while the other becomes negatively charged. This creates an electric field between the plates, which allows the capacitor to store energy.

The I-V (current-voltage) graph of a capacitor is initially a straight line, indicating that there is no current flowing through the capacitor when there is no voltage applied. As the voltage increases, the current also increases, but at a slower rate. This is because the capacitor is still charging and cannot conduct current at the same rate as a wire. Once the capacitor is fully charged, the current stops flowing and the I-V graph becomes a flat line.

The key principle behind a capacitor's operation is its ability to store charge. When a capacitor is connected to a circuit, it can quickly release this stored energy, which can be useful in applications such as smoothing out fluctuations in voltage or providing a temporary power source. The size and type of the dielectric used in a capacitor can affect its capacitance, or the amount of charge it can store.

I hope this helps to answer your question. Let me know if you have any further inquiries.