Physics: Project Report
Name- Astha Gajanan Shegokar
Class- XII (Love)
Roll no- 26
Topic- Capacitors- Ceramic, film,
Electrolyte and paper capacitors
Guided by- Archana mam
And Anjali mam
ALPHONSA. SR. SEC. SCHOOL
2024-25
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Astha Gajanan
Shegokar of class XII, Alphonsa Sr Sec
School, Sawangi Meghe, Wardha, has
successfully completed her project in
physics practical as prescribed by CBSE
in the year 2024-25.
Date:
Place:
Signature of Internal Signature of External
examiner examiner
Signature of Principal
ACKNOWLEDGE
I thank my physics teachers Mrs. Anjali mam
& Mrs. Archana mam for their guidance and
support. I also thank my Principal Rev. Sr.
Navya. I would also like to thank my parents
for encouraging me during the course of
this project.
Finally, I would like to thank CBSE for giving me
the opportunity to undertake this project.
Signature of the student
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Basic components
• What are capacitors ?
• How do they work ?
• Types of capacitors
• Dielectrics
• Ceramic capacitors
• Types of ceramic capacitors
• Applications (Ceramic capacitors)
• Film capacitors
• Applications (film capacitor)
• Electrolytic capacitors
• Applications (electrolytic)
• Paper capacitors
• Applications (Paper capacitors)
• Bibliography
Introduction
Capacitors are one of the basic
components used in an electrical
circuit like resistors, inductors, and
many more. The capacitor is a passive
device that is available in a wide
variety. They are classified based on
various aspects.
The capacitor is a component which
has the ability or “capacity” to store
energy in the form of an electrical
charge producing a potential
difference (Static Voltage) across its
plates, much like a small rechargeable
battery.
There are many different kinds of
capacitors available from very small
capacitor beads used in resonance
circuits to large power factor
correction capacitors, but they all do
the same thing, they store charge.
What are Capacitors ?
Capacitors are simple passive device
that can store an electrical charge on
their plates when connected to a
voltage source.
Basic Components
A capacitor consists of two or
more parallel conductive (metal)
plates which are not connected
or touching each other, but are
electrically separated either by
air or by some form of a good
insulating material. This
insulating material could be
waxed paper, mica, ceramic,
plastic or some form of a liquid
gel as used in electrolytic
capacitors.
How do they work ?
The insulating layer between a
capacitors plates is commonly
called the Dielectric.
Due to this insulating layer, DC
current can not flow through the
capacitor as it blocks it allowing
instead a voltage to be present
across the plates in the form of an
electrical charge.
The conductive metal plates of a
capacitor can be either square,
circular or rectangular, or they can
be of a cylindrical or spherical
shape with the general shape, size
and construction of a parallel plate
capacitor depending on its
application and voltage rating.
There are two types of electrical
charge, a positive charge in the
form of Protons and a negative
charge in the form of Electrons.
When a DC voltage is placed across
a capacitor, the positive (+ve)
charge quickly accumulates on one
plate
while a corresponding and
opposite negative (-ve) charge
accumulates on the other plate.
For every particle of +ve charge
that arrives at one plate a charge of
the same sign will depart from the
–ve plate.
The flow of electrons onto the
plates is known as the capacitors
Charging Current which continues
to flow until the voltage across
both plates (and hence the
capacitor) is equal to the applied
voltage Vc. At this point the
capacitor is said to be “fully
charged” with electrons.
The amount of potential difference
present across the capacitor
depends upon how much charge
was deposited onto the plates by the
work being done by the source
voltage and also by how much
capacitance the capacitor has and
this is illustrated below.
The parallel plate capacitor is
the simplest form of capacitor.
It can be constructed using two
metal or metallised foil plates
at a distance parallel to each
other, with its capacitance
value in Farad
Types of Capacitors
Capacitors are categorized into 2
mechanical groups. Fixed
Capacitors consist of fixed
capacitance value and variable
capacitance with variable
capacitance value. Beneath are a
brief description of various
capacitor types and their
properties.
1. Ceramic Capacitors
2. Film Capacitors
3. Electrolytic Capacitors
4. Paper Capacitors
1. Ceramic Capacitors
A ceramic capacitor is considered
to be one of the most commonly
used capacitors. The material used
in this capacitor type is dielectric.
Also, ceramic capacitors are
non-polar devices which
means that they can be used in
any direction in the circuit.
Dielectric-
A dielectric is a material which has
poor electrical conductivity but
inherits an ability to store an
electrical charge(due to Dielectric
polarization).
Dielectrics are used as a capacitor for
storing energy. The dielectric
material in a transformer is used as
an insulator and as a cooling agent.
Types of Ceramic
Capacitors
Depending on the availability of
the capacitor, ceramic capacitors
are classified into three groups:
1. Leaded disc ceramic
capacitors
2. Surface mount multi-layered
ceramic capacitors
3. Microwave bare lead-less disc
ceramic capacitors
Applications-
Ceramic capacitors are used in
printed circuit boards that are
used in high-density applications.
Their non-polarity makes them
suitable for general usage.
• They applications in DC motors as they are
used for reducing the RF noise.
• Ceramic capacitors are used in transmitter
stations where resonant circuits are used.
2. Film Capacitors
Film capacitors are also known as a
polymer film, plastic film, or film
dielectric.
The advantage of film capacitors is that
they are inexpensive and come with
limitless shelf life. The film capacitor
uses a thin dielectric material with the
other side of the capacitor metalized.
Depending on the application, the film
capacitor is rolled into thin films. The
general voltage range of these
capacitors is from 50 V to 2 kV.
Applications-
These capacitors are used as
safety capacitors and in
electromagnetic interference.
Power film capacitors find
applications in power
electronics.
These capacitors are used for
safeguarding the devices from
sudden voltage spikes.
Film capacitors are used for
improving the power factor of
the device.
3. Electrolytic Capacitors-
In an electrolytic capacitor
metallic anode coated with an
oxidized layer used as a
dielectric. These capacitors are
polarized. Electrolytic
capacitors are categorized based
on their dielectric.
Applications of Electrolytic
Capacitors
Electrolytic capacitors are used when
there is a requirement for large
capacitance.
They are used as filtering devices
that lower the ripple voltage.
They are used in audio amplifiers to
reduce the electrical noise that is
induced by the main supply.
Electrolytic capacitors are used in
smoothing the input and output
signals in a DC signal that has a weak
AC component.
4. Paper Capacitors
Paper capacitor is also known as a fixed
capacitor in which paper is used as the
dielectric material. The amount of electric
charge stored by the paper capacitor is
fixed. It consists of two metallic plates,
and paper, which is used as a dielectric
material, is placed between these plates.
Applications of Paper Capacitor
These capacitors are used in noise
filtering, coupling, and decoupling
systems.
They are also used for blocking the DC
signals so that AC signals are passed
through.
Bibliography~
1. https://byjus.com/physics/capacitor-
types/#types%20of%20capacitors
2. https://www.electronics-
tutorials.ws/capacitor/cap_1.html
3. https://byjus.com/physics/dielectric-
properties/#:~:text=Dielectrics%20are%20used%20as
%20a,permittivity%20dielectric%20materials%20are%2
0used
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