Question

What are different types of capacitors?

Answer 1

Capacitor:

1. A capacitor is an electrical energy storage device that operates in an electric field.
2. It is a two-terminal passive electrical component.
3. Capacitance is the effect of a capacitor.
4. While any two electrical conductors in close proximity in a circuit have some capacitance, a capacitor is a component designed to provide capacitance to a circuit.

Types of capacitors:

Capacitors are divided into two mechanical categories.

1. Fixed capacitors:
   1. A fixed capacitor is one that holds a specific quantity of electric charge (capacitance) that cannot be adjusted at any time.
   2. Their values are generally established during the production process. In electric appliances or gadgets, a fixed capacitor aids in maintaining a steady charge and energy output.
2. Variable capacitors :
   1. Variable capacitors, as opposed to normally fixed capacitors, are designed to allow for fluctuating capacitance values.
   2. In most situations, variable capacitance is achieved by changing the distance between parallel plates in a capacitor or adjusting the cross-sectional area where the plates face one another.
   3. Variable capacitors are often used in L/C circuits to set the resonance frequency, for example: to tune a radio

A brief explanation of several capacitor types on the behalf of their characteristics is provided below.

Ceramic Capacitors:

1. Ceramic capacitors are non-polar devices which means that they could be used in any direction in the circuit.
2. The material used in these capacitors is dielectric.

Film Capacitors:

1. The film capacitor uses a thin dielectric material with the other side of the capacitor metalized.
2. Depending on the application, the film capacitor is rolled into thin films.

Power Film Capacitors:

1. Power film capacitors employ the same construction processes and materials as regular film capacitors.
2. In a capacitor, polypropylene film is employed as a dielectric.

Electrolytic Capacitors:

1. As a dielectric in an electrolytic capacitor, a metallic anode covered with an oxidized layer is utilized.
2. These are polarised capacitors.
3. Electrolytic capacitors are classified according to their dielectric.

Paper capacitors:

1. A paper capacitor is a fixed capacitor that uses paper as the dielectric material.
2. The paper capacitor stores a set quantity of electric charge.
3. It is made up of two metallic plates with paper put between them as a dielectric medium.