What is the effect of capacitance in an AC circuit?

In an AC circuit, capacitance plays a significant role by allowing capacitors to store electrical energy. When an alternating current flows through a capacitor, it causes the capacitor to charge and discharge in sync with the AC waveform. This ability to store energy temporarily is due to the electric field created between the plates of the capacitor when voltage is applied.

As the voltage in an AC circuit alternates, the capacitor charges when the voltage increases and discharges when the voltage decreases. This process results in phase differences between the current and voltage, which is a key characteristic of AC circuits. Therefore, capacitance is fundamental in various applications, such as filtering, tuning, and energy storage in AC systems.

The other options do not accurately describe the role of capacitance in an AC circuit. While capacitance does oppose changes in voltage, its primary and defining feature is its ability to store electrical energy. Thus, it's essential to recognize that the capacitive effect primarily centers around energy storage during the AC cycle.