What electrical component stores energy in an electric field?

What electrical component stores energy in an electric field?

• A. Inductor
• B. Resistor
• C. Capacitor
• D. Transformer

Answer: (C)

A capacitor is the electrical component that stores energy in an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field develops between them, causing charge to accumulate on the plates. This stored energy can then be released when needed in a circuit. Capacitors are widely used in various applications, such as filtering, timing circuits, and energy storage, due to their ability to store and release energy quickly. They are essential in smoothing out voltage fluctuations in power supplies and in coupling signals between different stages of electronic circuits. In contrast, inductors store energy in a magnetic field created by the flow of current through a coil of wire, while resistors primarily dissipate energy as heat and do not store energy at all. Transformers, on the other hand, transfer electrical energy between circuits through mutual induction but do not store energy in the same way a capacitor does.

A capacitor is the electrical component that stores energy in an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field develops between them, causing charge to accumulate on the plates. This stored energy can then be released when needed in a circuit.

Capacitors are widely used in various applications, such as filtering, timing circuits, and energy storage, due to their ability to store and release energy quickly. They are essential in smoothing out voltage fluctuations in power supplies and in coupling signals between different stages of electronic circuits.

In contrast, inductors store energy in a magnetic field created by the flow of current through a coil of wire, while resistors primarily dissipate energy as heat and do not store energy at all. Transformers, on the other hand, transfer electrical energy between circuits through mutual induction but do not store energy in the same way a capacitor does.