What device stores electrical energy for later use by accumulating charge?

The correct answer is a capacitor. Capacitors are designed specifically to store electrical energy in the form of an electric field created between two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the capacitor, charge accumulates on the plates, allowing the device to store energy for later use. This characteristic makes capacitors essential components in various applications, including smoothing voltage fluctuations in power supplies, filtering signals, and timing circuits.

In contrast, inductors store energy in a magnetic field when an electric current passes through them, but their primary function is related to inductance rather than charge accumulation. Resistors, on the other hand, are designed to resist the flow of electric current and convert electrical energy into heat, so they do not store energy. Transformers are used to change the voltage of alternating current (AC) through electromagnetic induction but do not store electrical energy in any form. Understanding these distinctions is crucial when studying electrical components and their functions in circuits.