AdvancedA-001-002-010
Between the charged plates of a capacitor there is:
A
Answer
Advanced theory and components
Type
A
an electrostatic field
B
a cloud of electrons
C
an electric current
D
a magnetic field
Answer Notes
A capacitor is constructed using two conductive plates separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the capacitor, an imbalance of charge builds up on the plates, creating an electrostatic field (also known as an electric field) across the gap. This field is the specific mechanism by which the capacitor stores its energy.
It is important to remember that the insulating dielectric prevents the actual flow of electrons across the gap, so there is no electric current or "cloud of electrons" between the plates. Additionally, a magnetic field is characteristic of an inductor or a current-carrying wire, not the static electrical charge stored within a capacitor.
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What is the term for energy that is stored in an electromagnetic or electrostatic field?
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Energy is stored within an inductor that is carrying a current. The amount of energy depends on this current, but it also depends on a property of the inductor. This property has the following unit: