ABSTRACT
On completion of this chapter, you should be able to
1 explain the primary function of a capacitor. 2 describe the essential components of any
capacitor. 3 describe the charging/discharging process of a
capacitor. 4 describe what is meant by ‘the charge on a
capacitor’. 5 describe how electric charge behaves with
capacitors connected in series. 6 recognise the circuit symbols for different types of
capacitor. 7 state the unit of measurement for capacitance. 8 list the factors that affect capacitance, and their
relationship. 9 describe how a capacitor’s dielectric affects
capacitance of that capacitor. 10 describe the relationship between absolute permit-
tivity, the permittivity of free space, and relative permittivity.
