Capacitors

What does a capacitor store?

• Electrons

• Electric charge

• Water

• Voltage

How does a capacitor release its energy compared to a battery?

• Slower

• At the same rate

• Much faster

• Cannot release energy

What analogy is used to explain how a capacitor works?

• A water tank storing water

• A sponge absorbing water

• A car's fuel tank

• A balloon filling with air

What happens when the voltage of a capacitor exceeds its maximum rating?

• Nothing special

• It recharges

• It explodes

• It becomes a conductor

What unit is capacitance measured in?

• Ohms

• Watts

• Volts

• Farads

What is one of the most common applications of capacitors in large buildings?

• Security systems

• Lighting control

• Temperature regulation

• Power factor correction

Answer explanation

Well done ... In a large building the draw of electricity from multiple machines can distort the current and voltage distribution draw. Use of a capacitor relaligns these on a voltage current graph.

What does the presence of a capacitor in a circuit help to prevent when turning a circuit on and off very fast?

• Short circuits

• Electrical noise

• The light from flashing

• Overheating

What is the symbol used to represent microfarads?

• A letter U with a tail

• A small f

• A Greek letter mu

• A capital M

What should you do if a capacitor is holding several volts or more?

• Immediately use it in a circuit

• Store it for later use

• Discharge it safely

• Increase its voltage

In the process of designing a new audio amplifier, an engineer considers using different types of capacitors. Some of these include:

• Electrolytic

• Dialectric

• Variable

• Timed