Capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field, while inductors store energy in the form of a magnetic field. Both types of devices are used in electronic circuits to control the flow of electricity.
What is a capacitor?
A capacitor is an electronic device that stores electric charge. It is composed of two conducting plates separated by an insulating material, called the dielectric. The amount of charge that a capacitor can store depends on the surface area of the plates and the distance between them.
When a voltage is applied to the capacitor, charge begins to build up on the plates. The rate at which the charge builds up depends on the value of the capacitance. Capacitance is measured in farads (symbol: F). A capacitor with a capacitance of 1 farad can store 1 coulomb (C) of charge at 1 volt (V).
What is an inductor?
An inductor is a coil of wire that creates a magnetic field when an electric current flows through it. The inductor’s resistance to changes in the current (known as inductance) causes the current to flow more slowly through the inductor than it would otherwise. This effect can be used to create electrical circuits that filter out unwanted frequencies or store energy in the form of a magnetic field.
Capacitor Vs Inductor – Key differences
The basic principle of a capacitor is that it stores energy in the form of an electric field between two metal plates. While, the basic principle of an inductor is that it stores energy in the form of a magnetic field around a coil of wire.
How do capacitors and inductors work?
A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When a voltage is applied to the capacitor, electrons flow onto one of the plates, creating an electric field between the plates. The dielectric helps to prevent the electrons from flowing back off of the plate, so the electric field can remain stored for a period of time.
An inductor also consists of two conductive plates, but these are wound into a coil shape. When a current flows through the inductor, it creates a magnetic field around the coil. This magnetic field can then induce a current in another circuit, even if that circuit is not directly connected to the inductor.
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