Which component is responsible for creating a magnetic field and storing energy?

The component responsible for creating a magnetic field and storing energy is the inductor. When an electric current flows through an inductor, it generates a magnetic field around it, thanks to the coil of wire wound around a core. This magnetic field enables the inductor to store energy in the form of magnetic energy.

Inductors are commonly used in various applications, such as filtering, energy storage in power supplies, and in tuning circuits, because they can release the stored energy back into the circuit when the current changes. This property makes inductors vital for managing the flow of current in electronic circuits, particularly in alternating current (AC) applications.

Capacitors, on the other hand, store energy electrostatically and are focused more on voltage stabilization and filtering applications. Transformers transfer electrical energy between circuits through electromagnetic induction but do not store energy in the way inductors do. Resistors are used to limit current flow in a circuit but do not create magnetic fields or store energy. This distinction clarifies the role of inductors in electrical systems and highlights why they are the correct answer in this context.