Mechanical Description of the Ceramic Capacitor

Mechanical Description of the Ceramic Capacitor

Name:

Tutor:

Course:

Date:

Mechanical Description of the Ceramic Capacitor

Introduction

The ceramic capacitor is a circuit component that operates as an energy-storage device, similar to the functions of a normal battery. Although capacitors and batteries work in different ways, they are similar in that they store electrical energy for a device to use. While a battery has one terminal that produces electrons and another that absorbs them, a capacitor is simpler in the sense that it only stores electrons and is incapable of making them itself. When an electric current passes through a ceramic capacitor, it charges up the component and turns into an independent voltage supply serving the device. The capacitors usually store energy in the form of an electric field. In addition to this function, capacitors also filter signals of different frequencies, making them helpful components in electronic filters. The capacitors usually have a round ceramic part with two leads jutting out. A ceramic disc (dielectric), silver element and the wire leads normally compose the typical ceramic capacitor.

Ceramic Disc (Dielectric)

The ceramic disc (dielectric) is a non-conducting substance inside a capacitor that separates the two conducting parts of the component. In Figure 1 below, the dielectric prevents the electrodes from coming into contact with each other by separating the two of them (Yasuhiro 1). The dielectric is usually made of ceramic because of it does not conduct electricity. Accordingly, other substances can substitute the ceramic in a capacitor such as mica, porcelain, Teflon and cellulose. Normally, the size of the dielectric determines the capacitors use. Larger dielectrics allow utilization of the capacitor in high frequency and high voltage uses. This is because a large dielectric allows the capacitor to have higher capacitance (Yasuhiro 1). After the dielectric, the next component in a capacitor is the silver element.

The Silver Element

The silver elements are the parts of a capacitor that hold the electrons. After a current has passed through a ceramic capacitor, the component stores some of the energy in the form of an electric field. The capacitor normally holds this energy inside the silver elements. One silver element in a capacitor usually accepts the electrons while the other one discharges them. It is because of this difference that the silver elements have to be separated by a non-conducting material such as ceramic (What is a Capacitor and Capacitance? Types of Capacitors 1). This prevents the capacitor from discharging within itself. The elements are usually made with silver because it is a good conductor of electricity. However, some capacitors have elements made with other metals such as zinc (Ceramic Capacitor 1). Each silver element is normally attached to the final component of a capacitor, the wire lead.

The Wire Leads

The wire leads are two terminals that connect the silver elements in a capacitor to other components and devices. The leads are usually made from substances that are good conductors of electricity so that they can function well. One wire lead normally attaches to the silver element that accepts electrons from a device, while the other one connects to the element discharging them. Accordingly, the terminals are each soldered onto a silver element (Ceramic Capacitor 1).

Conclusion

The ceramic capacitor is a circuit component that operates as an energy-storage device, similar to the functions of a normal battery. By storing energy, the capacitor provides the device with energy that powers some functions. For instance, capacitors power the LED flashes common in modern cameras. The ceramic capacitor consists of a ceramic disc (dielectric), silver elements and wire leads. The ceramic disc separates the silver elements making sure they do not discharge electrons into each other. Conversely, the silver elements store the electric energy that the capacitor bears. The terminals serve by passing electrons in and out of the silver elements. Through this elementary structure, the ceramic capacitor has proved useful in many electrical devices, particularly high frequency ones such as antennas.

Appendices

Figure 1: structure of a general ceramic capacitor (Yasuhiro 1).

Works Cited

Ceramic Capacitor. Capacitorguide.com. Capacitor Guide, 2014. Web. 10 June 2014.

Mitsuya, Yasuhiro. Terminal Capacitors. Murata Global. Murata Manufacturing Co., 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 10 June 2014.

What is a Capacitor and Capacitance? Types of Capacitors. Electrical4U. Electrical4U, n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
Mechanism Description Evaluation Rubric

Formatting

Introduction

Part 1 (repeat for each part)

Part 2

Part 3

**Do not use a transition between the last part and the conclusion.

Conclusion

Figure

References

Miscellaneous