All Flashcards
Label the components of a parallel plate capacitor diagram.
1: Positive Plate, 2: Negative Plate, 3: Dielectric (optional), 4: Electric Field Lines
What is the definition of Conductivity?
How well a material conducts electricity; the opposite of resistance.
What is the definition of Capacitance?
A capacitor's ability to store charge, measured in Farads (F).
What is the definition of Dielectric Constant (κ)?
How much a material can increase a capacitor's ability to store charge. Higher κ = more storage!
What is the definition of Electric Field?
The force field around a charged object that makes charges move.
What is the definition of Breakdown Voltage?
The voltage at which an insulator becomes a conductor.
What is the definition of Polarization?
How a dielectric's molecules align in an electric field.
What is the definition of Resistance?
Opposition to current flow, measured in Ohms (Ω).
What are the steps of how a capacitor works?
- Apply voltage → charge accumulates on plates. 2. Electric field forms between plates. 3. Capacitance (C) measures how much charge (Q) it can store for a given voltage (V): Q = CV
How do dielectrics increase capacitance?
Molecules polarize in the electric field, reducing the field strength, which increases charge storage capacity.