Bypass Caps and High Frequency Current Return Paths

I was watching this video by w2aew on the function of ceramic bypass capacitors, and at 6:00 he states that high-frequency currents take the path of least-impedance and make their way to the power rail through the ceramic capacitor next to the IC.

Okay, so I get the fact that the high frequency content wants to avoid the high-Z path created by the return loop, but I also thought that current has to return back to its source through the negative terminal, to the power supply, and then flow out of the positive terminal. So why is the capacitor shunting it back directly onto the supply rail? Could someone please explain to me where my understanding of current flow, or whatever else, is wrong?

is a duplicate

This question has been asked before and has already been answered. It should be marked as a duplicate.

Please enter the URL of the proposed duplicate in the details field below.

not constructive

This question cannot be answered in a way that is helpful to anyone. It's not possible to learn something from possible answers, except for the solution for the specific problem of the asker.

Communities

Bypass Caps and High Frequency Current Return Paths [closed]

1 comment thread

0 answers