Which device is used to store energy in an electrical circuit temporarily?

Study for the Electrical Apprenticeship Year 1 Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Prepare for success!

The device that is commonly used to store energy temporarily in an electrical circuit is a capacitor. Capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field created between two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, known as a dielectric. When a capacitor is charged, it accumulates energy that can later be released back into the circuit when needed. This ability to store and release energy makes capacitors crucial in various applications, such as smoothing out voltage fluctuations, providing bursts of energy, and filtering signals in electronic circuits.

While inductors can also store energy, they do so in a magnetic field rather than an electric field. Inductors are primarily used in applications involving inductance and ability to oppose changes in current but do not perform the same function as capacitors in terms of temporary energy storage for a wide range of circuit applications.

Transformers are used to change the voltage level in AC circuits by transferring energy between circuits through electromagnetic induction. They do not store energy; instead, they facilitate the transfer of energy from one circuit to another with a different voltage level.

Resistors, on the other hand, are components that dissipate energy in the form of heat and are used to limit current or divide voltages in a circuit, but they do not store energy.

Thus,

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