Capacitors and Inductors Introduction

Do capacitors and inductors dissipate energy?

Capacitors and inductors do not dissipate energy, but rather store it. They are called storage elements. Capacitors consist of two conductive plates separated by an insulator (or dielectric), such as air, ceramic, paper, or mica. Inductors are typically coils of wire. Capacitors and inductors do not dissipate but store energy which can be retrieved at a later time.

What is the difference between a capacitor and an inductor?

The energy of a capacitor is stored within the electric field between two conducting plates while the energy of an inductor is stored within the magnetic field of a conducting coil. Both elements can be charged (i.e., the stored energy is increased) or discharged (i.e., the stored energy is decreased).

What are the characteristics of ideal capacitors and inductors?

Delve into the characteristics of ideal capacitors and inductors, including their equivalent capacitance and inductance, discrete variations, and the principles of energy storage within capacitors and inductors. The ideal resistor was a useful approximation of many practical electrical devices.

Why is a capacitor a fundamental element?

In both digital and analog electronic circuits a capacitor is a fundamental element. It enables the filtering of signals and it provides a fundamental memory element. The capacitor is an element that stores energy in an electric field. The circuit symbol and associated electrical variables for the capacitor is shown on Figure 1. Figure 1.

What is an example of an inductor in a circuit?

An inductor is an electrical component that can be used to generate a high voltage, for example, as an igniting element in a circuit. It is a short to DC and the current through an inductor cannot change abruptly.

Do inductors have capacitive effects?

In addition to the resistive non-idealities of inductors there could also be capacitive effects. These effects usually become important at high frequencies. Unless stated otherwise, these effects will be neglected in out analysis. The inductance L represents the efficiency of storing magnetic flux.