If a camera flash hits, which component is used to supply a quick burst of current?

If a camera flash hits, which component is used to supply a quick burst of current?

• A. Capacitor
• B. Battery
• C. Transformer
• D. Diode

Answer: (A)

A sudden, bright flash requires a very fast, high-current pulse. A capacitor is ideal for this because it can store energy and then release a large amount of it in a very short time when it’s connected to the flash tube. The energy stored in the capacitor is dumped quickly, producing a sharp current spike that excites the xenon gas to produce the flash. The battery mainly serves to recharge the capacitor between shots, not to provide the rapid burst itself. A transformer changes voltage but isn’t the energy reservoir, and a diode directs current rather than delivering the big instantaneous push. So the quick burst of current comes from the capacitor.

A sudden, bright flash requires a very fast, high-current pulse. A capacitor is ideal for this because it can store energy and then release a large amount of it in a very short time when it’s connected to the flash tube. The energy stored in the capacitor is dumped quickly, producing a sharp current spike that excites the xenon gas to produce the flash. The battery mainly serves to recharge the capacitor between shots, not to provide the rapid burst itself. A transformer changes voltage but isn’t the energy reservoir, and a diode directs current rather than delivering the big instantaneous push. So the quick burst of current comes from the capacitor.