Final answer:
The energy dissipated in the resistor was initially stored in the inductor's magnetic field, released when the switch cut the battery from the circuit, leading to an exponential decay of current over time. so, option B is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a discharging circuit, the energy that is dissipated in the resistor was initially stored in an inductor. When the switch in the circuit is moved to a position that cuts the battery out of the circuit, the energy in the inductor opposes the decrease in current flow by inducing an electromotive force (emf). This is due to the energy that was stored in the magnetic field of the inductor, given by the equation (1/2)LI2, where L is the inductance and I is the current. The inductor releases this energy at a finite rate as the current approaches zero, leading to an exponential decay in current with time.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'Where was this energy stored before the switch was thrown?' is B) Inductor.
When a discharging circuit is in operation, the current in the circuit will dissipate energy into the resistor. Before the switch is thrown, the energy is stored in the capacitor. The capacitor can store electrical energy in its electric field, and when the switch is closed, this stored energy gets released and flows through the circuit.