capacitor. An electrical component made of two conductors separated by an insulator, or dielectric. A capacitor can store an electrical charge in an electrostatic field. The capacitance of a capacitor is measured
in farads, microfarads (10-6 farad), or picofarads (10-12 farad).
The capacitance of a capacitor is determined by three things: the area of the plates, the amount of separation between the plates, and the kind of insulating material, or dielectric, between the plates. Capacitors were at one time called condensers.

capacitor-discharge ignition system (gas turbine engine ignition system). A type of high-energy ignition system that produces a hot spark for starting a gas turbine engine.
In a capacitor-discharge ignition system, electrons are stored under high voltage in capacitors. When these electrons are released, they cause a high-intensity spark to jump across the gap in the igniters.
capacitor-input filter (electronic filter). A type of electrical filter used to smooth the pulsations in the output of an electronic power supply. A capacitor is installed in parallel with the rectifier output, and an inductor is in series.
capacitor-start induction motor. An AC motor whose rotor is excited by voltage induced into it from the stator windings. A capacitor-start motor has two stator windings: a start winding and a run winding. The start winding is in series with a capacitor that shifts the phase of the current flowing through it, so it is out of phase with the current flowing through the run winding.
The magnetic field produced by the start winding and the field produced by the run winding work together to produce a magnetic field that rotates within the motor housing. The rotor follows this rotating field. When the rotor has accelerated to a specified speed, a centrifugal switch opens the start winding circuit, and the motor continues to operate on the run winding alone. Capacitor-start motors have a good starting torque.
capacity (battery specification). The total amount of current available in a battery or electrical cell. Capacity is normally measured in ampere-hours.
cap cloud (meteorology). A standing, or stationary, cap-like cloud crowning a mountain summit.
cape chisel. A narrow-blade cold chisel with either a single or double bevel. Cape chisels are used to knock the head off a rivet after it has been drilled through, and to cut narrow grooves and keyways in metal components.

capillary action. The action that causes a liquid to climb the walls of a container or to be drawn up into extremely tiny tubes or between close-fitting parts.
The force of adhesion between the liquid and the solid wall of the container is greater than the force of cohesion between the molecules of the liquid. The stronger force of adhesion causes the liquid to try to spread out and wet the walls.