How can i make a cheap capacitor?what are the materials needed to make a capacitor? can i use an aluminum can?

Question

can i use an ALUMINUM CAN as an alternative in making a capacitor?

Answer 1

Better, would be to use a glass jar.

Cover the outside of the jar with foil, and fill the jar with water (or try and cover the inside of the jar with foil).  This is called a Leyden jar.

Connect a wire to the outside foil and the water (or foil) in the inside.  If you use water, just let the wire sit on the bottom.

The capacitance of a 1-quart jar will be in the range of 1000 picoFarads give or take a few hundred pF.

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Answer 2

I totally agree with the above answer.