Unit 2 · The parts in your toolbox 6 minAge 8+
Capacitors, the tiny batteries
They hold electricity for a very short time, then release it.
Read first: Voltage and current
A capacitor is a small bucket for electricity. You can fill it up from a battery, then later, when the battery is gone, the bucket will pour its stored electricity back out.
Capacitors don't hold much — usually for less than a second — but that is exactly long enough to do useful jobs. They smooth out wobbly power, and they're the heart of timer circuits that can blink lights or beep buzzers on a schedule.
What does a capacitor do?
Now you understand…
- Capacitors briefly store electricity.
- Used to smooth power and to time blinks/beeps.
- Some have polarity — match the + and − legs.
Now meet parts that let your circuit feel the world.