You might think so; but in reality capacitors simply can't compete with batteries in terms of charge storage capacity per weight, size or cost. For example, to replace an ordinary little 18650-type lithium ion battery (a bit bigger than an AA cell) costing $5 and storing 3000 mAH of charge, would require several thousand dollars worth of supercapacitors and would occupy somewhere around a cubic foot of space.Hi, anyone tell me difference between capacitor and battery. I am pretty confused with them as both charge/discharge and outputs current. Can't be they used interchangeably?
A capacitor is simply 2 plates separated by a dielectric - the charge on one plate or the other is pretty much an abundance of electrons.Hi, anyone tell me difference between capacitor and battery. I am pretty confused with them as both charge/discharge and outputs current.Can't be they used interchangeably?
Sorry to be pedantic (Yeah, and pulleys store rope!) but neither stores charge in an electronics or physics sense as the total amount of charge in the battery/electronics capacitor (not a physics-classroom capacitor of spheres) remains the same. Charge is separated between plates in both cases (mobile ions or electrons) resulting in an electric field (voltage). A current results when those mobile charges move around that combined with the voltage results in electrical energy transport.Both store charge, but in a different state. In a cap, accumulated free charge has a gaseous character.
In a battery, the charge is in a liquid/solution potential state. More charge density.
You can replace "charge" with "charge differential" if you like, but bearing in mind the basic lack of understanding in the OP do you think that level of pedantry is appropriate?Sorry to be pedantic (Yeah, and pulleys store rope!) but neither stores charge in an electronics or physics sense as the total amount of charge in the battery/electronics capacitor (not a physics-classroom capacitor of spheres) remains the same. Charge is separated between plates in both cases (mobile ions or electrons) resulting in an electric field (voltage). A current results when those mobile charges move around that combined with the voltage results in electrical energy transport.
Charge and energy are two different things.
Yes, because it's a very important distinction on what's the true difference that was mainly directed at one poster and the OP. There is the colloquial usage of 'charge' that's commonly used when we store energy and the electronics/physics meaning of charge that's a property of matter and can be used in different types of systems to store energy.You can replace "charge" with "charge differential" if you like, but bearing in mind the basic lack of understanding in the OP do you think that level of pedantry is appropriate?
I agree it's messy and imprecise because of the nature of the archaic term 'charge'.I understand and agree with the pedantry, but there are also semantics to deal with. If you can both charge and discharge a capacitor, is it really wrong to say it holds a charge?
While the semantics of it may represent the most basic form and description of what goes on in a capacitor, the physics of it is not that at all. The dielectric between two plates is made up of atoms, consisting of protons and electrons. Likely neutrons as well, but they carry no charge (so to say).If you can both charge and discharge a capacitor, is it really wrong to say it holds a charge?
Capacitor = physics
Battery = chemistry
Remember, the dielectric between the plates in a capacitor can be a vacuum.Batteries are chemical while capacitors are atomic in nature (the nucleus of the atom and its orbiting electrons)
OK somebody blast me for my post. I'm ready.
Absolutely they can be. In fact, I've played with variable capacitors that were "Air Core" caps. Radio tuners. Tube type radios had these tuning caps long before PLL (Phase Lock Loop) tuners.Remember, the dielectric between the plates in a capacitor can be a vacuum.