Capacitors typically used in electrical applications are rated much lower than one farad. What term do we use for these capacitors?

Capacitors that are commonly used in electrical applications are often rated in microfarads, especially when dealing with general-purpose capacitors in circuits, where capacitance values typically range from a few microfarads to hundreds of microfarads. The microfarad (µF) is a unit of capacitance equivalent to one-millionth of a farad, making it suitable for many practical applications in electronics without the need for excessively large or cumbersome components.

In contrast, millifarads and picofarads represent larger and smaller capacitance values, respectively, which may not fit the common needs in most circuits. Millifarads, being one-thousandth of a farad, represent a larger quantity than what is typically needed for standard applications, while picofarads, being one-trillionth of a farad, are usually used in high-frequency applications and specific circuits where very small capacitances are necessary. KiloFarads represent an even larger scale and are rarely used in everyday electronics, making them impractical for most applications.

Thus, the term that best describes the capacitors used in standard electrical applications is microfarad, highlighting their suitability for everyday use in electronic circuits.