Capacitor Collection

Standard electrical circuit symbols. Diagram of standard symbols used to represent electrical equipment in electrical circuit diagrams. The symbols are arranged in six rows of sets of three

Circuit board

Circuit board, artwork
Circuit board. Computer artwork depicting city scape made of electronic circuits

Cylinder electrostatic machine, with Leyden jar (mahogany, brass & glass)
MFR348302 Cylinder electrostatic machine, with Leyden jar (mahogany, brass & glass) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Physics, 1833-39 (coloured engraving)
999560 Physics, 1833-39 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Dictionnaire pittoresque d histoire naturelle et des phenomAnes de la natureA)

The discovery of the Leyden Jar, 1745 (1894). An experiment conducted by Dutch scientist Pieter van Musschenbroek. Musschenbroeck (1692-1761) and his student, Andrea Cunaeus

Computer motherboard, artwork
Motherboard. Computer artwork of the main circuit board (motherboard) of a personal computer (PC). Motherboard components include transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors and inductors

Illustration of capacitor

Illustration showing inside of 1920s crystal set

Charging a Leyden jar with a Ramsden electrostatic generator
LEYDEN JAR. Charging a Leyden jar with a Ramsden electrostatic generator

Circuit city, computer artwork F005 / 7376
Computer artwork of a conceptual circuit cityscape made of electronic components

Circuit city, computer artwork F005 / 7374
Computer artwork of a conceptual circuit cityscape made of electronic components

Three electrolytic capacitors with capacitance values of 2200 microfarads, 1000 microfarads and 470 microfarads. The arrows on the canisters are pointing to the capacitors negative ends

Circuit board in a portable radio. Components such as resistors and capacitors are visible

Assorted capacitors. A capacitor is similar to a battery in that it is designed to store and release electrons. It has two terminals (electrodes)

Computer circuit board with microchips
Circuit board. Part of a computer circuit board with rectangular microchips (red). These micro- chips are miniature microprocessors, joined by electrical pathways

Semiconductor components
Semiconductors. Selection of various applications of semiconductors. Semiconductors are materials with properties between those of conductors and insulators

Dismantled capacitor. This is a device designed to store and release electric charge. The charge is stored in a rolled up cylinder of material seen at centre (brown)

Capacitor. This device is designed to store and release electric charge. It can release its charge faster than a battery, but unlike a battery it cannot produce electricity but can only store it

Electric circuit. Capacitor (blue, lower centre) connected to an alternating current (AC) power supply (orange, left). This type of supply operates with the electrical current flowing back

Close-up of an electronic circuit board
Circuit board. Close-up view of an electronic circuit board, showing resistors (centre), a Light Emitting Diode (LED, centre right) and a capacitor (red, centre left)

Fluorescent starter
Fluorescent light starter. The starter is used to allow voltage to pass the length of the fluorescent tube in order for it to ignite and emit light

Various capacitors

Laptop circuit board

Franklin investigates the leyden jar
In 1747-8 Benjamin Franklin made numerous investigations into the characteristics of the Leyden jar. He devised a method of charging jars in series, also called charging in cascade

Petrus Van Musschenbroek (1692 - 1761)
PETRUS VAN MUSSCHENBROEK Petrus Van Musschenbroek, Dutch mathematician and physicist (Leiden, 1692 - 1761). Inventor of the Leyden bottle, the first electric capacitor

Franklins Electrostatic Battery
Franklin was the first to group a series of Leyden jars together. In 1749 he coined the word Ôé¼┼ôbatteryÔé¼ to describe such an assembly of cells

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A capacitor, represented by standard electrical circuit symbols, is an essential component of any circuit board. Its role in storing and releasing electrical energy makes it a crucial element in various electronic devices. Just like the intricate artwork on a circuit board they can intricately designed to optimize their performance. The history of capacitors dates back centuries, with the Leyden jar being one of the earliest examples. This mahogany, brass, and glass cylinder electrostatic machine was used to charge the Leyden jar in 1833-39 as depicted in a beautifully colored engraving from that era. The discovery of the Leyden Jar itself took place even earlier in 1745. In modern times, they can be found on computer motherboards among other components. Their presence ensures stable power supply and prevents sudden voltage fluctuations that could damage sensitive electronics. As seen through standard electrical circuit symbols, these small but mighty devices play a significant role in maintaining smooth operations within our technological world. Illustrations showcasing capacitors provide insight into their internal structure and how they function within circuits. These illustrations also highlight their importance when integrated into systems such as crystal sets from the 1920s or charging a Leyden jar using Ramsden electrostatic generators. As technology advances further into our digital age, cities are becoming hubs for complex circuits powering computers and other electronic devices. Computer artwork depicting futuristic "circuit cities" reminds us of how integral they are to keep these interconnected networks running smoothly. From ancient discoveries to cutting-edge technology, capacitors remain an indispensable part of our electrified world.