Capacitors

Capacitors are electrical components that store and release electrical energy in a circuit. They consist of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field is created, causing charge to accumulate on the plates. The amount of charge a capacitor can store is measured in farads (F), and this capacity depends on the surface area of the plates, the distance between them, and the type of dielectric used. Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for various purposes, including filtering, smoothing out voltage fluctuations, energy storage, coupling and decoupling signals, and timing applications. They play a crucial role in both analog and digital electronics.