Electrical – are electrolytic capacitors bilateral or unilateral element

circuit analysis

Capacitor is a bilateral element (provides same impedance if direction of current is reversed)- what I studied in Classification of elements.

I was wondering about electrolytic capacitor. If it is a bilateral element then it should provide the same impedance when current is reversed. But polarity is important for electrolytic caps(how they are connected in circuit, -ve terminal usually goes to ground).

So, is it bilateral or unilateral? and if someone can give more details about the same.

Best Answer

The current through an electrolytic capacitor can flow in both directions, in that sense it is no different from a non-polarized capacitor.

The main difference is that the voltage across an electrolytic capacitor must not be reversed. That is, the voltage between the + terminal and the - has to be larger than or equal to zero volts at all times. Though, a small reverse voltage can sometimes be tolerated.