Difference between properties of Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor

Difference between Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor

We know that there are three important passive elements that are widely used in electrical circuits as well as electronic circuits, that are Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor. Most of the electrical and electronic circuits consist of resistors, inductors, and capacitors. 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 those components. As an electrical or electronics engineer, you should have a clear knowledge of resistors, inductors, and capacitors.

Comparison of properties of Resistor, Inductor, and Capacitor:

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

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Resistor Properties:

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

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

The resistor is a bidirectional element because it allows the flow of the current in both directions through it. Also, remember that a resistor is a non-polarized component, so there is no negative or positive connection.

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

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

The resistor does not have any electrical energy-storing property. The voltage and current are 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 a pure resistive circuit is always unity. As the resistor can produce heat that is why this property is used for heating purposes.

Resistor Symbol:

Inductor Properties:

The Inductor is nothing but a coil of wire that opposes any change in current that flows through it. The Inductor is also a passive element that does not require a power supply or biasing for its operation. The inductor is a bidirectional element that 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 is connected to the AC circuit.

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

Inductor Symbol:

Capacitor Properties:

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

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

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