Concepts* Equipment * Explanation

	Variable Plate Capacitors - Display Demonstration created by: Dr. Scott Dwyer - 2002 Modified 8/12/03
	CONCEPTS:
	Capacitance
	EQUIPMENT:
	Variable Plate Capacitors (as pictured)
	EXPLANATION:
	Capacitors hold charge and store energy, and accumulate charge until needed at a later time. They are also used for a variety of purposes in electronic circuitry to modify signals. They come in all shapes and sizes to suit the requirement. Smaller ones are typically found in electronic circuitry. These are usually composed of interlocking sandwiches of parallel plates made into small packages. Some capacitors are just metal plates separated by air spaces. These "variable plate" capacitors were used in radios during the vacuum tube era to tune the circuit to your desired station. Other capacitors are called "electrolytic", which reflects the material that fills the space between the plates. See also