How is a capacitor constructed?

A capacitor is constructed using two conductive plates that are separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric. This design allows the capacitor to store electrical energy in the form of an electric field. The dielectric material is crucial because it increases the capacitor’s ability to store charge by reducing the electric field between the plates, and it provides insulation to prevent short-circuiting between the plates.

The presence of two conductive plates is fundamental to the operation of a capacitor, as they create a positive and a negative charge when the capacitor is connected to a power source. The characteristics of the dielectric material, including its permittivity, determine the capacitance value, which is measured in farads.

Understanding the construction of a capacitor is essential for grasping how it functions in electrical circuits, such as in energy storage, filtering, and timing applications.