When energy is stored in an inductor, it is in the form of what?

In an inductor, energy is stored in the form of a magnetic field. This phenomenon occurs when current flows through the coil of the inductor, creating a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field represents the stored energy, which can be released back into the circuit when the current decreases or when the inductor is disconnected from the circuit.

The magnetic field is a crucial concept in understanding how inductors operate in electrical circuits. Inductors resist changes in current. When current increases, the inductor stores energy by generating a magnetic field. Conversely, when the current decreases, the inductor will release that energy.

The other options pertain to different concepts. A capacitive field relates to capacitors, where energy is stored in an electric field, while an electric field is associated specifically with the presence of electric charges. An electromagnetic field combines both electric and magnetic fields but does not specifically address the nature of energy storage in inductors, which is strictly magnetic. Thus, the most accurate understanding is that inductors store energy in a magnetic field.