Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

Which electrical device is known for storing potential energy?

1. Resistor

2. Capacitor, electrolytic

3. Transformer

4. Inductor

The correct answer is: Capacitor, electrolytic

The capacitor, particularly an electrolytic capacitor, is recognized for its ability to store potential energy in the form of an electric field. When a voltage is applied across the terminals of a capacitor, positive charge accumulates on one plate while an equal amount of negative charge accumulates on the other plate. This separation of charge creates an electric field, which represents stored potential energy. Capacitors can release this stored energy back into a circuit when required, making them essential components in various applications such as power supply circuits, signal processing, and smoothing out fluctuations in voltage. In contrast, while a resistor dissipates energy in the form of heat and doesn't store it, an inductor stores energy in the form of a magnetic field when current flows through it. A transformer, on the other hand, transfers electrical energy between circuits via electromagnetic induction but does not store energy in the same manner as a capacitor. This distinction clarifies why the electrolytic capacitor is the correct answer.