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I've tried to google/wiki/how-to.com this question: in layman's terms, what really IS capacitance and why is it significant? Here is how I think I understand it: Capacitance is a measure of the amount of electrons (measured in Farads or fractions thereof) a capacitor can hold/release per the stated or designed voltage rating.
Am I just way off base with this or on right track? If so, another question: while there are an almost infinite number of circuits for inifinite purposes, basically - keeping it kindergarden level here - how is capacitance significant? Thinking it would affect current load, especially on sensitive circuits.
Again, thanks for the responses and furthering my understanding...
Registered Member #2390
Joined: Sat Sept 26 2009, 02:04PM
Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Posts: 381
You can think of a capacitor as a little storage tank for voltage. Here is an analogy that may help you out. "Voltage is like the water in a water tower. Current is like the amount of flow coming out of that water tower." Voltage is pressure, current is flow. A capacitor is a reactive device so when you place it in a circuit it will have an effect. Look up capacitive and inductive reactance on google. Inductive reactance will deal with inductors obviously. These are two things that will be of great use to you if you are planning to get into electronics. Hope this gives you someplace to begin! Mike...
Registered Member #834
Joined: Tue Jun 12 2007, 10:57PM
Location: Brazil
Posts: 644
A capacitor is a device that follows Volta's law, that says that electrical charge and voltage are proportional: Q = C*V, where C is the capacitance. An insulated conductor suspended above ground follows this law, considering its voltage to ground and the charge accumulated on it. A more useful device is a capacitor, that has two conductor plates at small distance insulated from each other. They store opposite charges in the plates, in an amount proportional to the voltage between the plates. In the hydraulic analog, a capacitor would be an elastic membrane closing the passage of water (charge) trough a pipe (wire). The amount of water that the membrane holds in the bulge that it forms when deformed is proportional to the pressure (voltage) applied. AC currents (water going back and forth) can pass through a capacitor, but DC currents are soon blocked when the capacitor is completely charged.
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Capacitors and Capacitance - Dumb basic question
