Final answer:
A capacitor is an electrical component designed to store energy by separating and maintaining an electric charge on two opposing plates, even after being disconnected from a power source.
Step-by-step explanation:
An electrical component that stores energy when an electric charge is forced onto its plates is called a capacitor. A capacitor is an arrangement of objects that can store energy in an electric field, typically made from conducting plates separated by an insulating material. When battery terminals are connected to an uncharged capacitor, equal amounts of positive and negative charge are separated onto its two plates. Although the capacitor remains neutral overall, it stores energy by maintaining this separation of charge. Capacitors have various applications, such as in radio reception and energy storage in heart defibrillators.