In an electrical circuit, where is the potential energy stored?

The correct choice is a capacitor, as capacitors are specifically designed to store electrical potential energy. When voltage is applied across the plates of a capacitor, an electric field is created, and energy is stored in this field. This stored energy can be released when the circuit requires it, making capacitors essential components for various applications, such as smoothing out fluctuations in power supply, coupling signals, or providing bursts of energy.

In contrast, while inductors can also store energy, they do so in a magnetic field rather than as potential energy in an electric field. Resistors are components that dissipate energy in the form of heat and do not store energy. Transformers are used to transfer electrical energy between circuits through inductively coupled conductors but do not store energy themselves. This understanding emphasizes the unique role of capacitors in energy storage within electrical circuits.