Property Of Capacitance:

Envision two huge flat sheets of metal which are excellent electrical conductors. Assume that they are each of the size of the state of Nebraska and are positioned one over the other, separated constantly by a few centimeters of air. When these two sheets of metal are associated to the terminals of a battery, they will become charged, one is positive and the other negatively charged. This will take a little while since the sheets are so large.

When the plates were small, they would both become charged almost immediately, attaining a potential difference equivalent to the voltage of the battery. Though, since the plates are gigantic, it takes a moment for the negative plate to "fill up" with electrons, and it also takes little time for the positive plate to get electrons "sucked out."

Eventually, the potential difference among the two plates becomes equivalent to the battery voltage, and an electrical field is present in the space among the plates. This electrical field is small at first; the plates do not charge right away. Though, the field rises over a period of time, based on how large the plates are, and also on how far distant they are. Energy is stored in this electrical field. The Capacitance is a manifestation of the ability of the plates, and of the space among them, to store this energy. In formulas, capacitance is represented by the italicized uppercase letter C.