uF in a capacitor stands for microfarad, which is a unit of capacitance. It represents one millionth of a farad (1 x 10-6 F).
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Capacitance: Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store electrical energy in an electric field. It is measured in farads (F).
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Farad (F): The farad is the standard unit of capacitance in the International System of Units (SI). However, a farad is a very large unit, so smaller units like microfarads (µF), nanofarads (nF), and picofarads (pF) are commonly used.
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Microfarad (µF): The microfarad (µF) is a more practical unit for many electronic applications. The Greek letter "µ" (mu) represents "micro," which means one millionth (10-6). Therefore, 1 µF = 0.000001 F = 10-6 F.
In summary, when you see "uF" or "µF" marked on a capacitor, it tells you the capacitor's capacitance value in microfarads. This indicates how much electrical charge the capacitor can store at a given voltage. Capacitors with values of 1 µF or higher are commonly found in audio frequency circuits and AC circuits.