A
variable capacitor comprising: a first elongate member comprising a first
electrically conductive portion positioned towards a first distal end of the first elongate member and a second
electrically conductive portion positioned towards a second distal end of the first elongate member, wherein the first elongate member is configured to pivot on a first fulcrum positioned between the first and second
electrically conductive portions, wherein a first distance between the first fulcrum and the first electrically conductive portion of the first elongate member is different to a second distance between the first fulcrum and the second electrically conductive portion of the first elongate member; a second elongate member comprising a first electrically conductive portion positioned towards a first distal end of the second elongate member and a second electrically conductive portion positioned towards a second distal end of the second elongate member, wherein: one of the first and second elongate members is a
cathode and the other of the first and second elongate members is an
anode, a first
capacitor is formed by the respective first electrically conductive portions of the
cathode and
anode, wherein a
capacitance of the first
capacitor is a function of a first pivoting angle of the first elongate member on the first fulcrum, and a second
capacitor is formed by the respective second electrically conductive portions of the
cathode and
anode, wherein a
capacitance of the second capacitor is a function of the first pivoting angle of the first elongate member on the first fulcrum, the first and second electrically conductive portions of the cathode are connected to a positive
voltage of a first electric circuit, the first and second electrically conductive portions of the anode are connected to a
negative voltage of the first electric circuit, such that the first and second capacitors are connected in parallel, and wherein: application of an electrical
potential difference by the first electric circuit causes pivoting of the first elongate member and a corresponding variation in the
capacitance of the first capacitor that is proportional to the electrical
potential difference and a corresponding variation in a capacitance of the second capacitor that is inversely proportional to the electrical
potential difference, wherein the magnitude of the variations in capacitances of the first and second capacitors are different such that a sum of the capacitances of the first and second capacitor varies as a function of the electrical potential difference.