Which description best matches a passive component?

• A. It stores, dissipates, or filters energy
• B. It amplifies signals
• C. It generates power
• D. It converts AC to DC

Answer: (A)

Passive components don’t provide power or gain. Their job is to interact with signals by storing energy, dissipating some of it as heat, or shaping the signal’s frequency content through filtering. That’s why the description “stores, dissipates, or filters energy” matches them best. For example, capacitors and inductors store energy in electric and magnetic fields, resistors dissipate energy as heat, and networks of these elements create filters that pass or reject certain frequencies without adding any new energy to the circuit.

In contrast, amplifying signals is something active components like transistors or op-amps do, because they can take in energy from a source and provide gain. Generating power is also an active function, requiring an external supply. Converting AC to DC is energy-form conversion typically achieved by rectification—often using diodes within a circuit—rather than a simple property of a passive element.