Difference Between Capacitor and Inductor
| Property | Capacitor | Inductor |
|---|---|---|
| Energy storage | Electric field | Magnetic field |
| Energy calculation | Voltage (½ CV<sup>2</sup>) | Current (½ LI<sup>2</sup>) |
| Current flow | No flow through the plates | Current passes through the coil |
| DC circuit behavior | Insulator | Conductor |
| AC circuit behavior (current vs. voltage) | Current leads voltage by 90 degrees | Current lags voltage by 90 degrees |
| DC circuit behavior (added in series with a resistor) | Current initially high, then falls to zero | Initial current small, gradually increases with time |
| Unit of measurement | Farad | Henry |
| Types | Ceramic, electrolytic, tantalum | Coupled inductor, multi-layer inductor, ceramic core inductor |
| AC circuit behavior (equivalent to a short circuit) | Short circuit | Short circuit |
| DC circuit behavior (in steady state conditions) | Open circuit | Short circuit |
| Resistance to change | Voltage | Current |
| High voltage power supply use | Yes | No |
| Other common applications | Filtering AC signals, blocking DC signals | Filtering high-frequency signals, providing time delay |
Difference Between Capacitor and Inductor
- Capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field, while inductors store energy in the form of a magnetic field.
- The energy stored in a capacitor is calculated in terms of voltage, while the energy stored in an inductor is calculated in terms of current.
- There is no flow of current through the plates of a capacitor, but current passes through the coil of an inductor.
- Capacitors act as insulators in DC circuits, while inductors act as conductors.
- In AC circuits, the current leads the voltage by 90 degrees in a capacitor, while the current lags the voltage by 90 degrees in an inductor.
- In a DC circuit, a capacitor added in series with a resistor will initially have a high current that later falls to zero, while an inductor added in series with a resistor will have a small initial current that gradually increases with time.
- Capacitance is measured in Farads, while inductance is measured in Henrys.
- Capacitors come in various types, such as ceramic, electrolytic, and tantalum, while inductors come in types such as coupled inductors, multi-layer inductors, and ceramic core inductors.
- In AC circuits, a capacitor acts as a short circuit, while an inductor is equivalent to a short circuit in DC circuits.
- In DC circuits, a capacitor acts as an open circuit in steady state conditions, while an inductor behaves as a short circuit in steady state conditions.
- Capacitors resist changes in voltage, while inductors resist changes in current.
- Electrolytic capacitors are used in high voltage power supplies, while inductors have various applications including radio, TV, chokes, and transformers.
What is Capacitor?
A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material. The electric field between the plates stores energy in the form of an electric field. When a voltage is applied across the capacitor, charges build up on the plates and create an electric field. The strength of the electric field depends on the voltage applied to the capacitor and the distance between the plates. The capacitor stores energy as long as the voltage across it is maintained. When the voltage is removed, the electric field disappears and the energy stored in the capacitor is released.
The capacitance of a capacitor is a measure of its ability to store electric charge. It is determined by the size and shape of the plates, the distance between the plates, and the type of dielectric material used. The unit of measurement for capacitance is the Farad (F).
What is Inductor?
An inductor is a type of passive electronic component that stores energy in the form of a magnetic field. It consists of a coil of wire, often with a core made of a magnetic material such as iron or ferrite. When an electric current is passed through the coil, a magnetic field is created around the coil. The strength of the magnetic field depends on the amount of current flowing through the coil and the number of turns in the coil.
The inductance of an inductor is a measure of its ability to oppose changes in current. It is determined by the size and shape of the coil, the number of turns in the coil, and the type of core material used. The unit of measurement for inductance is the Henry (H).