Electrical IBEW Practice Test 2025 - Free IBEW Practice Questions and Study Guide

A capacitor primarily functions to store and release electrical energy within a circuit. It achieves this by accumulating charge on its plates when voltage is applied across them. When the voltage source is removed, the stored energy can be discharged back into the circuit, allowing the capacitor to perform tasks such as smoothing out voltage fluctuations in power supplies, filtering signals, or providing timing functions in various applications.

The other options do not accurately describe the fundamental role of a capacitor. Converting current from AC to DC refers to the action of rectifiers, not capacitors. Limiting current flow describes the function of resistors or other current-limiting devices. Amplifying electrical signals pertains to the role of amplifiers or transistors, which boosts signal strength rather than storing energy like a capacitor. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why the primary function of a capacitor is indeed to store and release electrical energy.