Along with resistors and inductors, capacitors make up one of the three major categories of

passive components. As many as about two trillion of these devices are being manufactured
each year worldwide. The most common type is the ceramic capacitor, but there are many
other kinds as well, such as film capacitors offering excellent insulation and stability, and
electrolytic capacitors boasting large capacitance values. Different types are used in different
ways, to make optimum use of their respective properties and features.

Operation principle and basic construction of capacitors

The basic form of a capacitor is two electrodes (metal plates) facing each other, with a gap in
between. When a DC voltage (V) is applied to the two electrodes, electrons will instantly
collect on one side, causing that electrode to have a negative charge, while electrons on the
other electrode will be lacking, which means that it has a positive charge. This condition will
remain also when the DC voltage is removed. In other words, an electric charge (Q) has now
accumulated between the two electrodes. When a so-called dielectric (made of a ceramic
material, plastic film, etc.) is inserted between the two electrodes, the dielectric polarization
effect results in a higher charge. A numeric value expressing how much charge a capacitor
can hold is called the electrostatic capacity, or capacitance (C) for short.
Basic properties of a capacitor (1): "accumulates electric charge"

A capacitor, as its name implies, is capable of storing a fairly large electrical charge, provided
that its construction allows a large electrode surface area, and a dielectric with suitably high
dielectric constant is used. When a DC voltage is applied directly from a power source, a
current will momentarily flow in the conductor. As soon as the electric potential difference
between the electrodes is equal to the power source voltage, the current stops and the
charging process ends, meaning that the capacitor is charged. The charge and discharge
processes are illustrated in the graph below.
Basic properties of a capacitor (2): "blocks DC, passes AC"

Because the electrodes of a capacitor are separated by the dielectric, a current will flow
momentarily in the conductor during the charging process, but the current will not actually
pass through the dielectric inside the capacitor. In other words, the capacitor blocks the flow
of direct current (DC). By contrast, when an alternating current (AC) power source is
connected, the electrodes will alternately repeat a charge and discharge cycle, with the
orientation of the electric field being reversed each time. Although there is no actual
movement of electrons within the insulator, the effect is the same as if an AC current were
flowing. Therefore a capacitor is regarded as passing AC current. Since it differs from regular
conduction current, this type of current is called displacement current.
Basic properties of a capacitor (3): "the higher the frequency, or the higher
the capacitance, the more easily current can pass"

As we have seen, one of the basic properties of a capacitor is that it blocks DC and passes
AC. However, the ability to pass current is not the same for every kind of current. It depends
on the frequency of the alternating current, as well as on the capacitance of the capacitor. The
degree to which current can pass easily is indicated by a quantity called capacitive
reactance(XC)This is the resistance of the capacitor to alternating current, and it is expressed
in ohms []. The equation for the capacitive reactance (XC) of a capacitor is shown below.
Faraday's law of induction is a basic law of electromagnetism predicting how a magnetic field will
interact with an electric circuit to produce an electromotive force (EMF)a phenomenon called
electromagnetic induction.