A conductor in a capacitor is a material that allows the flow of electrical charge. In a capacitor, there are two conductors, known as plates, that are separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. The conductors are responsible for storing the equal but opposite charges in a capacitor.
When a capacitor is connected to a power source, the conductors (plates) become charged with equal but opposite charges. This occurs because of the movement of electrons from one plate to the other. The movement of electrons creates an electric field between the two plates, which is what stores the electrical energy in the capacitor.
In a capacitor, the two conductors (plates) need to have equal but opposite charges in order for the capacitor to function properly. If the charges were not equal and opposite, the capacitor would not be able to store electrical energy efficiently. This is because the electric field between the plates would be unbalanced and the capacitor would not be able to hold a charge.
No, not all materials can be used as a conductor in a capacitor. Conductors need to have a high electrical conductivity in order to allow the flow of charge. Some common materials used as conductors in capacitors include metals such as copper, aluminum, and silver.
The capacitance of a capacitor is affected by the size and distance between the conductors (plates). A larger surface area and smaller distance between the conductors will result in a higher capacitance, as there is more room for electrical charge to be stored. Conductors with higher electrical conductivity also tend to have a higher capacitance.
