Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

Which of the following is an advantage of an electrolytic capacitor?

1. Tight tolerance

2. Non-polarized

3. High capacitance for given volume

4. Inexpensive RF capacitor

The correct answer is: High capacitance for given volume

An electrolytic capacitor is widely recognized for its capability to provide high capacitance values in a relatively small physical size. This characteristic makes it particularly advantageous for applications where space is a constraint, yet significant energy storage is necessary. The construction of electrolytic capacitors, which involves the use of a dielectric oxide layer formed on an aluminum or tantalum substrate, allows them to maintain a large surface area, contributing to their high capacitance density. In contrast to other types of capacitors, such as ceramic or film capacitors, which may offer more limited capacitance values for the same volume, electrolytic capacitors excel in applications requiring larger capacitance, such as power supply filtering, coupling applications, and energy storage systems. The ability to pack a greater amount of capacitance into a smaller form factor makes them a preferred choice in many electronic circuits. Considering the other potential characteristics: while some capacitors might have tight tolerances or be non-polarized, and although electrolytics tend to be less expensive than some RF capacitors, these factors do not highlight the primary strength of electrolytic capacitors, which is their high capacitance for a given volume.