Sähkökondensaattorien

Sähkökondensaattorien, commonly known as capacitors, are passive electronic components that store electrical energy in an electric field. They consist of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material, which is an electrical insulator. When a voltage is applied across the plates, electric charge accumulates on them, with positive charge on one plate and negative charge on the other. This separation of charge creates an electric field between the plates, and the energy is stored in this field.

The ability of a capacitor to store charge is quantified by its capacitance, measured in farads (F). Capacitance depends on the area of the plates, the distance between them, and the dielectric constant of the material separating them. A larger plate area, a smaller separation distance, and a dielectric material with a higher dielectric constant all result in a higher capacitance.

Capacitors have numerous applications in electronics. They are used in filtering circuits to smooth out voltage fluctuations, in timing circuits to control the duration of events, in resonant circuits to select specific frequencies, and in energy storage applications where they can quickly discharge their stored energy. They are essential components in power supplies, audio equipment, radio receivers, and many other electronic devices. The dielectric material can vary widely, including ceramics, plastics, and electrolytic materials, each offering different properties for specific applications.