What component stores energy in an electric field?

A capacitor is the component that stores energy in an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field is created, and energy is stored in this field. The amount of energy stored in a capacitor is determined by both the capacitance value and the voltage across it, as described by the formula ( E = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 ), where ( E ) is the stored energy, ( C ) is the capacitance, and ( V ) is the voltage.

This energy can be released back into the circuit when needed, making capacitors crucial for various applications such as smoothing voltage fluctuations, storing energy for short durations, and contributing to timing circuits. Additionally, they play a key role in AC circuits, power factor correction, and signal processing.

In contrast, while other components mentioned may store energy in different forms—such as inductors storing energy in a magnetic field or batteries storing chemical energy—capacitors are specifically designed for storing energy electrostatically.