What happens to the energy stored in a capacitor during an AC cycle?

During an AC cycle, the energy stored in a capacitor fluctuates between storage and release. This phenomenon is fundamental to the behavior of capacitors in alternating current (AC) circuits.

In an AC circuit, the voltage across the capacitor changes direction periodically. As the AC voltage rises, the capacitor charges, storing electrical energy in its electric field. When the voltage drops, the capacitor discharges, releasing that stored energy back into the circuit. This cycle of charging and discharging occurs continuously and at a frequency determined by the AC source.

What makes this behavior significant is that the capacitor doesn't dissipate energy as heat (which would happen in resistive elements) nor does it produce mechanical energy. Instead, the energy is continuously exchanged between the capacitor and the rest of the circuit. This cyclic energy transfer is a key aspect of capacitive reactance, impacting how capacitors influence the phase relationship between voltage and current in AC systems. Thus, the correct understanding highlights the dynamic process of energy storage and release inherent to capacitors in an AC environment.