What does a capacitor store?

A capacitor stores electrical energy. This occurs because a capacitor is made up of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, or dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, electric charges accumulate on the plates, creating an electric field between them. This separation of charge allows the capacitor to store energy in the form of an electric field.

The energy stored in a capacitor can be utilized in various circuits for different applications, such as smoothing out fluctuations in power supply, providing power during short interruptions, or delivering quick bursts of energy.

Other energy forms mentioned are incorrect in this context. Magnetic energy relates to inductors, which store energy in a magnetic field, while kinetic energy is associated with the motion of objects. Potential energy typically refers to stored energy related to position, such as in gravitational or elastic systems, and does not directly apply to the function of a capacitor.