Capacitor formerly known as condensator?

Question

A capacitor was formerly known as condenser. Why has it changed? In Europe we still use the latin terms.

Answer 1

For about the same reason that we say Hertz, KiloHertz, etc. instead of CPS, (Cycles Per Second). Well, not quite. When we say Hertz, we are honoring Heimlich Hertz who was one of the early electronic experimenters.



Calling this dervice a capacitor indicates that we know it has "Capacity" to store energy. It doesn't "condense" anything, though it does pass A.C. and blocks D.C.

Answer 2

Either term is fine, but capacitor is used far more often. I think condenser is to restrictive or include all the possible applications of capacitors.

Answer 3

The term condenser disappeared with tube (valve) radios. They've been known as capacitors ever since, everywhere.

Answer 4

Word " condensator " was not existed in English.

Word " condenser " was a previous old name for capacitor, no more using it now.



See this link ....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor