Difference between properties of Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor

Difference between Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor

We know that there are three important passive elements which are widely used in the electrical circuit as well as electronic circuit are Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor. Most of the electrical and electronic circuits consist of resistor, inductor, and capacitor. In this post, we are going to discuss the difference between properties of Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor which will help you to know more about that components. As an electrical or electronics engineer, you should have a clear knowledge of resistor, inductor, and capacitor.

Comparison of properties of Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor:

SL NO.	Resistor	Inductor	Capacitor
1.	Resistor mainly opposes the flow of current.	Inductor mainly opposes the changes in current flowing through it.	Capacitor mainly stores the electrical energy for a short time.
2.	Resistor cannot store electrical energy.	Inductor can store electrical energy in form of magnetic field.	Capacitor can store electrical energy in form of charge.
3.	Resistor can block both AC and DC	Inductor can block only AC.	Capacitor can block only DC.
4.	Resistor creates electrical power loss	Inductor does not create electrical power loss.	Capacitor does not create electrical power loss.
5.	Opposition of flow of current of a resistor does not depend upon the applied frequency.	Opposition of flow of current of an inductor depends upon the applied frequency.	Opposition of flow of current of a capacitor depends upon the applied frequency.
6.	The resistor can produce heat.	The inductor cannot produce heat.	The capacitor cannot produce heat.
7.	Resistor does not have any reactance property.	The Inductor has inductive reactance property.	The Capacitor has capacitive reactance property.
8.	The resistor creates unity power factor.	The Inductor creates lagging power factor.	The capacitor creates leading power factor.
9.	The resistor cannot create phase difference between current and voltage.	The Inductor can create phase difference between current and voltage.	The capacitor can create phase difference between current and voltage.
10.	The unit of resistance is Ohm.	The unit of Inductance is Henry	The unit of capacitance is farad.
11.	The resistor cannot improve power factor.	The inductor can be used for improvement of power factor for capacitive load.	The capacitor can be used for improvement power factor for inductive load.

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Resistor Properties:

A Resistor is an element which can oppose the flow of current in an electrical or electronic circuit. Resistor is a widely used common component in every electrical and electronic circuits.

The resistor is called a passive element because it has no need of external power supply or biasing for its operation. An active element like Transistor need a power supply or biasing for its operation but passive elements have no need of power supply for their operation.

The resistor is a bidirectional element because it allows flowing the current both direction through it. Also, remember that a resistor is a non-polarized component, so there is no negetive and positive for connection.

Generally, a resistor shows the linear conduction properties if the temperature is constant that means if we increase the voltage across it the flow of current also increased according to the voltage. There are non-linear resistors are also available.

The resistor can losses electrical power by producing heat when it connected in an electrical or electronic circuit. The property of a resistor is called resistance. The effect of the resistor is the same in AC circuit as DC circuit.

The resistor has not any electrical energy storing property. The voltage and current always in the same phase for a purely resistive circuit. The resistor does not create any lagging or leading power factor, the power factor of pure resistive circuit always unity. As the resistor can produce heat that is why this property used for heating purpose.

Resistor Symbol:

Inductor Properties:

The Inductor is nothing but a coil of wire which opposes any change in current which flows through it. The Inductor is also a passive element which does not require a power supply or biasing for its operation. The inductor is a bidirectional element which allows the flow of current in both directions through it.

Electrical power loss does not occur in an inductor. The property of an inductor is called inductance. The inductor can oppose the flow of electrical current by creating self-inductance. The inductance property does not exist in the DC circuit. The inductor creates a lagging power factor when it connected in the AC circuit.

The current lags behind the voltage when it flowing through an inductor. The inductor can store electrical energy in form of magnetic field. The inductor cannot produce heat like a resistor.

Inductor Symbol:

Capacitor Properties:

The Capacitor is an element which can store electrical energy for a short time in form of charge.

The capacitor is a passive element which does not require a power supply or biasing for its operation. There different types of capacitors are available- AC and DC capacitor are the most important. Of course, an AC capacitor has not nay polarity but a DC capacitor has polarity.

The capacitor is also a bidirectional element which allows the flow of current in both directions through it. The capacitor does not electrical power loss. The property of a capacitor is called capacitance. The capacitor provides high resistance in DC circuit and low resistance in the AC circuit. The reactance property of a capacitor depends upon the applied frequency to the capacitor.

The capacitor creates a leading power factor when it connected in the AC circuit. The current leads behind the voltage when it flows through the capacitor. As the capacitor creates a leading power factor that is why it is used for power factor improvement. The capacitor can block the DC but allows the AC.