Which component is primarily responsible for energy storage in an AC circuit?

In an AC circuit, the primary component responsible for energy storage is the inductor. Inductors store energy in the form of a magnetic field when electric current flows through them. When current changes direction or fluctuates with the alternating current, the inductor releases the stored energy back into the circuit. This behavior makes inductors vital for applications in filtering, energy storage, and reactive power management in AC circuits.

While capacitors also play a role in energy storage within AC circuits by storing energy as an electric field, their primary function is to manage voltage fluctuations and phase differences between current and voltage. In contrast to the magnetic energy storage in inductors, capacitors store energy electrostatically.

Resistors, on the other hand, do not store energy; they dissipate it as heat. Transformers are crucial for voltage transformation in AC circuits but are not energy storage devices themselves. Each component has its unique role, but when considering direct energy storage in the context of an AC circuit, inductors are the key players.