Final answer:
An electrical component that stores energy when charged and releases it when needed is called a capacitor, which consists of two plates separated by a dielectric.
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 composed of two conducting plates, known as capacitor plates, which are separated by an insulator or dielectric material. When connected to a power source such as a battery, it accumulates an equal amount of positive and negative charge on its opposing plates, without the plates touching each other. This setup allows the capacitor to store energy in the form of an electric field. Once disconnected from the power source, it can release the stored energy, for example, to power a lightbulb, until the stored charge is depleted.