What type of power does a capacitor primarily store?

A capacitor primarily stores reactive power, which is a fundamental concept in alternating current (AC) circuits. Reactive power is associated with the energy that is temporarily stored in the electric field of the capacitor and then returned to the circuit. Capacitors charge and discharge cyclically, smoothing out the voltage and helping to maintain power quality in AC systems.

This stored energy does not do any actual work, unlike real power, which is the energy consumed by loads to produce work. The concept of reactive power is crucial in electrical systems due to its role in managing voltage levels and the overall efficiency of power delivery. By storing and releasing energy, capacitors help to balance the reactive power in a system, preventing issues like voltage drops and improving the overall reliability of the power network.