capacitor

cutaway of a can-style electrolytic capacitor

n.

An electric circuit element used to store charge temporarily, consisting in general of two metallic plates separated and insulated from each other by a dielectric. Also called condenser.

n

(Electronics) a device for accumulating electric charge, usually consisting of two conducting surfaces separated by a dielectric. Former name: condenser

capacitor

A capacitor is charged when electrons from a power source, such as a battery, flow to one of the two plates. Because the electrons cannot pass through the insulating layer, they build up on the first plate, giving it a negative charge. Electrons on the other plate are attracted to the positive terminal of the battery, causing that plate to become positively charged.

A device used to store electric charge. Capacitors consist of two charged metal plates separated by an electrical insulator. The charge is supplied by connecting the plates to a source of electricity. The positive charge is stored on one of the plates, and the negative charge is stored on the other. Capacitors are used to regulate the flow of charge in electric circuits. ♦ The ability of a capacitor to store charge is called its capacitance (kə-păs′ĭ-təns). The capacitance depends on the size of the plates, the type of insulator, and the amount of space between the plates.