What is the role of capacitors in electrical systems?

Capacitors play a crucial role in electrical systems by storing electrical energy and correcting the power factor. When capacitors are connected to an electrical circuit, they can temporarily store charge and release it when needed, effectively smoothing out voltage fluctuations and stabilizing the supply. This energy storage feature is vital in various applications, including power supply systems and filtering signals in electronic devices.

Correcting power factor is equally important; capacitors help improve the efficiency of the electrical system. In many cases, inductive loads (such as motors and transformers) create a lagging power factor, resulting in less effective use of electrical power. By adding capacitors to the system, they introduce leading reactive power, which counteracts the lagging effect of the inductive loads, thereby improving the overall power factor. This leads to more efficient power consumption, reduced losses in transmission, and can also lower utility charges associated with poor power factor.

The other choices do not encompass the primary functions of capacitors. Voltage levels are increased using transformers rather than capacitors, grounding pertains to safety and equipment protection rather than energy storage, and converting AC to DC is managed by rectifiers, not capacitors. This highlights the unique and critical role that capacitors play in electrical systems, focusing on their