Capacitors

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Capacitors are a passive electrical component with two terminals that store electromagnetic energy in the form of an electric field. Terminals are connected to two conductive plates that have a dielectric material between them. They store an electric charge on their conductive plates. The charged plates separated by the dielectric material create an electric field.

Capacitance is a parameter of a capacitor that indicates the amount of stored electric charge for a given voltage applied to its terminals. It is measured in farads (F). For example, doubling the capacitance will double stored electric charge (for a given constant voltage at terminals).

Capacitors are classified based on physical materials used for three-layer conductor-dielectric-conductor structure. For example, those with metal-dielectric-electrolyte materials are called electrolytic capacitors; metal-ceramic-metal are called ceramic capacitors, etc. Those that are non-polarized may be connected either to positive or negative voltage. If they are polarized they must be connected to a positive voltage, with the positive terminal being marked on the packaging.