Definition
A fixed-value capacitor in which thin layers of silver are deposited directly onto sheets of mica to form the conductive plates, with the mica itself acting as the dielectric (insulating layer) between them. This construction produces a capacitor with very stable capacitance, low losses, and good performance at high frequencies.
Plain English
A small electrical part that stores a tiny, very steady amount of electrical charge. It is built by coating thin sheets of a natural mineral called mica with a fine layer of silver, then stacking them together.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electrical and avionics maintenance, especially in radio, navigation, and other circuits where stable electrical values matter.
Derivation
Silvered refers to the thin coating of silver applied to the plates. Mica is a naturally occurring mineral that splits into thin, smooth sheets and is an excellent electrical insulator. Capacitor comes from capacity, meaning the ability to hold an electrical charge.
Why Pilots Care
These capacitors hold their values across wide temperature and frequency ranges, supporting dependable operation of communication and navigation radios.
Intuition Check
“Silvered” does not mean the part is merely silver-colored. Here it means actual silver is deposited on the mica to form part of the electrical component.
Example Sentence 1
The radio's frequency-tuning circuit uses a silvered-mica capacitor because its value barely changes with temperature.
Example Sentence 2
Silvered-mica capacitors are chosen for their resistance to vibration and temperature changes inside cockpit radios.