Subelement A: Principles— Topic 1: Electrical Elements
Question 3-1A4
Element 3 (GROL)What device is used to store electrical energy in an electrostatic field?
Explanation
A capacitor is the device used to store electrical energy in an electrostatic 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 charge builds up on them, creating an electrostatic field within the dielectric, which stores the energy. This ability to store and release charge makes capacitors essential components in filters, timing circuits, and resonant circuits in radio frequency applications.
A battery (A) stores energy chemically and converts it to electrical energy. A transformer (B) transfers AC energy between circuits via electromagnetic induction. An inductor (D) stores energy in a *magnetic* field when current flows through it.
Related Questions
3-1A2 What is the basic unit of electrical power?3-1A3 What is the term used to express the amount of electrical energy stored in an electrostatic field?3-1A5 What formula would determine the inductive reactance of a coil if frequency and coil inductance are known?3-1A6 What is the term for the out-of-phase power associated with inductors and capacitors?3-20C1 What factors determine the capacitance of a capacitor?