Question

Analyze the behavior of capacitors under steady state direct current and high frequency AC current (500 Hz) as both a sine wave and square wave. Explain how capacitors behave under these conditions in your intro!

Answer 1

Under steady state direct current,capacitors are open circuit because it doesnt allow current to pass through it.At steady state the electric fields between capacitors plates cancels the effect of electric field generated by the battery and there is no further movement of charge.

The reactance offered by capacitor is 1/(2*pi*f*c) where f=frequency and c=capacitor.High frequency sinosoidal ac supply would decrease the value of reactance offered.Hence capacitor would behave as condictor as it is offering very low or no resistance at very high frequency.

when square wave input is applied it yields a triangular wave.When the position half of the cylcle it charges the voltage and during negative half cycle it discharges.