Capacitor
The Capacitor, also known as a Condenser, is also a passive component just like a resistance. It stores its energy in the form of an electrostatic field producing a potential difference (static voltage) across its plates. It consists of two conductive plates which are not connected but are electrically separated by an insulating material known as dielectric. In simple terms, a capacitor stores electrical energy and releases it whenever required. Like resistors, capacitors are also fixed or variable type. Fixed type capacitors are mica, ceramic, paper and electrolytic. Variable type mostly include air-gang capacitors. The different types of capacitor are shown in Fig. 5
Capacitance: It measures how much a capacitor can store charge or capacitance is a capacitor’s storage capacity. The higher the capacitance, greater is the amount of charge stored in the capacitor for the same applied voltage. Capacitance is measured in farads (F). However, practically used capacitors are specified in microfarads (µF=10-6 farads) and picofarads (pF=10-12 farads) range.
How to read the value of a capacitor? Unlike resistors, capacitors have a wide variety of codes. This is because there is a limited space to print the value on capacitors which essentially makes them difficult to read. The larger capacitors use units of microfarads and the smallest capacitors use units of picofarads. To read the value on small body capacitors, take the first two digits, then follow them with the number of zeros which is indicated by the third digit.
Example: 104 becomes 10×104 or 10 0000 pF, or more appropriately as 100 nF.