Section 4
Capacitors and Dielectrics
Book
Version 3
By Boundless
By Boundless
Boundless Physics
Physics
by Boundless
5 concepts
Capacitance
Capacitance is the measure of an object's ability to store electric charge.
Capacitors with Dielectrics
A dielectric partially opposes a capacitor's electric field but can increase capacitance and prevent the capacitor's plates from touching.
Parallel-Plate Capacitor
The parallel-plate capacitor is one that includes two conductor plates, each connected to wires, separated from one another by a thin space.
Combinations of Capacitors: Series and Parallel
Like any other form of electrical circuitry device, capacitors can be used in series and/or in parallel within circuits.
Dieletrics and their Breakdown
Dielectric breakdown is the phenomenon in which a dielectric loses its ability to insulate, and instead becomes a conductor.