A capacitive sensor senses presence using which principle?

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Multiple Choice

A capacitive sensor senses presence using which principle?

Capacitive sensing works by detecting changes in the electrical capacitance around the sensor’s electrodes when a nearby object alters the electric field. Capacitance is the ability to store charge between conductors separated by a dielectric. When a person or object comes close, the dielectric environment and the effective area influencing the field change, causing the capacitance to shift. The sensor detects that change and interprets it as presence. Inductive sensing relies on magnetic fields and metal targets, not general presence. Resistance-based sensing measures changes in resistance or current, which isn’t how capacitive sensors detect proximity. Piezoelectric sensing generates voltage from mechanical stress, not changes in a field caused by nearby objects.

Capacitive sensing works by detecting changes in the electrical capacitance around the sensor’s electrodes when a nearby object alters the electric field. Capacitance is the ability to store charge between conductors separated by a dielectric. When a person or object comes close, the dielectric environment and the effective area influencing the field change, causing the capacitance to shift. The sensor detects that change and interprets it as presence.

Inductive sensing relies on magnetic fields and metal targets, not general presence. Resistance-based sensing measures changes in resistance or current, which isn’t how capacitive sensors detect proximity. Piezoelectric sensing generates voltage from mechanical stress, not changes in a field caused by nearby objects.

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