<Tr> <Th> Invented </Th> <Td> Ewald Georg von Kleist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Electronic symbol </Th> </Tr> <P> A capacitor is a passive two - terminal electrical component that stores electrical energy in an electric field . The effect of a capacitor is known as capacitance . While some capacitance exists between any two electrical conductors in proximity in a circuit, a capacitor is a component designed to add capacitance to a circuit . The capacitor was originally known as a condenser . </P> <P> The physical form and construction of practical capacitors vary widely and many capacitor types are in common use . Most capacitors contain at least two electrical conductors often in the form of metallic plates or surfaces separated by a dielectric medium . A conductor may be a foil, thin film, sintered bead of metal, or an electrolyte . The nonconducting dielectric acts to increase the capacitor's charge capacity . Materials commonly used as dielectrics include glass, ceramic, plastic film, paper, mica, and oxide layers . Capacitors are widely used as parts of electrical circuits in many common electrical devices . Unlike a resistor, an ideal capacitor does not dissipate energy . </P>

What type of energy is stored in a capacitor