Lesson 01

Capacitor

animation

Interactive Electronics Trainer

What is a Capacitor? Interactive Simulation

A capacitor stores charge and energy by building an electric field between two conductive plates.

Capacitance

470

uF

Capacitor Voltage

10.57

V

Instant Current

1.43

mA

Stored Energy

26.258

mJ

Control Panel

Higher resistance or capacitance makes charging and discharging slower.

Main Formula

Q = C x V

Q = 4.968 mC

Capacitor Charge & Discharge Visualizer

A capacitor stores energy as an electric field between two plates. The animated dots show how charge movement changes over time.

CHARGING MODE
Electron flow: negative terminal to resistor to negative plate | Conventional current is oppositeDC12VSupply-+R1 kOhmC = 470 uFVc = 10.57V-+Negative platePositive plateElectron flow to negative plate ->Current magnitude = 1.43 mACapacitor Charge Level88.1% charged

Capacitance Meaning

More capacitance lets the component store more charge at the same voltage.

C = 470 uF

Time Constant

tau = R x C

tau = 0.47 s

Stored Voltage

During charging, capacitor voltage rises gradually toward the supply.

Vc = 10.57V

Charge & Current Distribution

Charge Level

88.1%

How much of the capacitor's full charge is present right now.

Voltage Level

88.1%

How close capacitor voltage is to the source voltage.

Current Level

11.9%

Charging current starts high and falls as the capacitor fills.

What is Capacitor?

Definition

A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical charge. It is usually made from two metal plates separated by a dielectric material.

Main Rule

Higher capacitance stores more charge at the same voltage. Formula: Q = C x V.

Learning Insight

Capacitor blocks steady DC

After a capacitor is fully charged, ideal DC current no longer keeps flowing.

Current starts high

Charging current is strongest at the beginning, then drops as capacitor voltage rises.

Energy is stored in a field

The stored energy lives in the electric field between the two plates.