Question

How do you know which side of a capacitor is positive?

Answer 1

Hint: In order to solve this question, we should know that a capacitor is an electronic device that is used to store electrical energy in it and it’s widely used in almost all electrical circuits. Here, we will discuss polarity and ways to know the positive side of a capacitor.

Complete step by step solution:
Mainly, There are two kinds of capacitors as Polarized and unpolarised capacitors. Un-polarized capacitors are those which don’t have polarity and can be connected in either way in an electrical circuit, most commonly these capacitors are used in the coupling, Decoupling, and oscillation circuits.

Electrolytic capacitors use electrolytes to form and enhance the capacitance of the capacitors. Electrolytic capacitors are polarized in nature and their manufactured style represents their polarity in the following ways:
-When lead wires terminals are used, then the negative wire is made shorter hence larger terminal wire is of positive polarity.
-In the Electrolytic capacitors, the negative terminal is marked colored at the base.
-Sometimes, a thick strip is used to identify that terminal on the strip side is negative while another one is Positive.

Hence, these are very common manufactured styles to mark the difference between the positive and negative terminals of the capacitors.

Note: It should be remembered that only the electrolytic capacitors will have positive and negative polarity and any other capacitors will not have any polarity and can be used in either way for connection in electrical circuits. The S.I unit of capacitance is known as Farad.