Courtesy by HowStuffWorks What is a Capacitor? According to Wikipedia, A capacitor (formerly known as condenser ) is a passive electrical component used to store energy in an electric field . The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at least two conductors separated by a non-conductor. Capacitors used as parts of electrical systems, for example, consist of metal foils separated by a layer of insulating film. Electrolytic Capacitor A capacitor is a passive electronic component consisting of a pair of conductors separated by a dielectric (insulator). When there is a potential difference (voltage) across the conductors, a static electric field develops across the dielectric, causing positive charge to collect on one plate and negative charge on the other plate. Energy is stored in the electrostatic field. An ideal capacitor is characterized by a single constant value, capacitance , measured in farads . This is the rati