The energy stored by a capacitor is in what type of field?

The energy stored by a capacitor is in what type of field?

• A. Electrostatic Fields
• B. Magnetic Fields
• C. Gravitational Fields
• D. Kinetic Fields

Answer: (A)

The energy stored in a capacitor comes from the electric field formed between its plates by the separated charges. When the charges are stationary, this field is electrostatic, and the energy is stored in that electric field. The energy can be described either as W = 1/2 C V^2 or W = 1/2 QV, and the field’s energy density is proportional to E^2 (specifically, w = 1/2 ε E^2). Magnetic energy is associated with changing currents and inductors, not with a simple charged capacitor, and gravitational or kinetic concepts don’t describe how a capacitor stores energy. So the stored energy is in the electrostatic field between the plates.

The energy stored in a capacitor comes from the electric field formed between its plates by the separated charges. When the charges are stationary, this field is electrostatic, and the energy is stored in that electric field. The energy can be described either as W = 1/2 C V^2 or W = 1/2 QV, and the field’s energy density is proportional to E^2 (specifically, w = 1/2 ε E^2). Magnetic energy is associated with changing currents and inductors, not with a simple charged capacitor, and gravitational or kinetic concepts don’t describe how a capacitor stores energy. So the stored energy is in the electrostatic field between the plates.