Capacitors and inductors are both passive electronic components used in circuits, but they have different properties and functions. Here are the main differences between capacitors and inductors:

1. Energy Storage Mechanism:

   • Capacitors: Capacitors store energy in an electric field between two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material. The energy stored in a capacitor is in the form of electrical potential energy.
   • Inductors: Inductors store energy in a magnetic field generated by the flow of current through a coiled wire. The energy stored in an inductor is in the form of magnetic field energy.

2. Response to Voltage and Current Changes:

   • Capacitors: Capacitors tend to resist changes in voltage and can store or release energy quickly in response to changes in voltage. They block direct current (DC) while allowing alternating current (AC) to pass through.
   • Inductors: Inductors tend to resist changes in current flow and can store or release energy quickly in response to changes in current. They block AC while allowing DC to pass through.

3. Impedance:

   • Capacitors: The impedance of a capacitor decreases with increasing frequency. At high frequencies, capacitors act as short circuits, allowing AC to pass through easily.
   • Inductors: The impedance of an inductor increases with increasing frequency. At high frequencies, inductors act as open circuits, blocking AC.

4. Phase Shift:

   • Capacitors: Capacitors introduce a phase shift of -90 degrees between voltage and current in an AC circuit. This means that the current leads the voltage across a capacitor.
   • Inductors: Inductors introduce a phase shift of +90 degrees between voltage and current in an AC circuit. This means that the voltage leads the current across an inductor.

5. Applications:

   • Capacitors: Capacitors are commonly used in applications such as filtering, energy storage, coupling, timing circuits, and power factor correction.
   • Inductors: Inductors are commonly used in applications such as filtering, energy storage, coupling, impedance matching, and inductance tuning.

6. Component Construction:

   • Capacitors: Capacitors are typically made of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material, which can be ceramic, electrolytic, or polymer-based.
   • Inductors: Inductors are typically made of a coiled wire (or a straight wire) wound around a core made of ferromagnetic material such as iron, ferrite, or powdered iron.

In summary, capacitors and inductors are both essential components in electronics, but they have different energy storage mechanisms, responses to voltage and current changes, impedance characteristics, phase shifts, applications, and construction methods. Understanding these differences is crucial for designing and analyzing circuits effectively.