Does a capacitor store electrical energy? True or False?

Capacitors do indeed store electrical energy, which makes the statement true. They function by accumulating electric charge when connected to a voltage source; this charge creates an electric field between the plates of the capacitor. The amount of energy stored in a capacitor can be calculated using the formula ( \frac{1}{2}CV^2 ), where ( C ) is the capacitance in farads and ( V ) is the voltage across the capacitor.

When a capacitor is charged, it can release the stored energy back into the circuit when required, allowing for various applications like smoothing out electrical signals in power supply systems, timing applications, and energy storage in pulse circuits. This characteristic of storing and releasing energy is fundamental to the function of capacitors in electronic and electrical systems.

Other choices might imply conditions under which a capacitor could store energy, but that is not necessary; capacitors inherently have the ability to store energy as a function of their design. Thus, the correct answer is rooted in the fundamental principle of how capacitors operate in electrical circuits.