A _____ is an electronic component that needs to discharge electrically before the replacement of parts.

• A. Resistor
• B. Capacitor
• C. Diode
• D. Inductor

Answer: (B)

Capacitors store electric energy as charge on their plates, and that stored energy can remain even after the power is turned off. Because of this, they can give a dangerous shock or cause a component to behave unpredictably if you replace parts without discharging first. Safely discharging a capacitor removes this stored energy, making it safe to handle the circuit and preventing damage to new parts.

Resistors don’t store a charge once power is removed; diodes don’t hold a lingering voltage either, as they conduct or block current rather than store energy. Inductors do store energy in a magnetic field while energized, but the common safety precaution during part replacement centers on capacitors because of their electric-field energy storage and potential for sudden discharge.