*Question E5D09:
What happens to reactive power in ideal inductors and capacitors?*  

*Correct Answer is  B: Energy is stored in magnetic or electric fields, but power is not dissipated*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

In ideal inductors and capacitors, reactive power is associated with the energy that is temporarily stored and then returned to the circuit. Here's a breakdown of why the correct answer is correct and why the other choices are incorrect:

### Correct Answer:  
**B: Energy is stored in magnetic or electric fields, but power is not dissipated**

- **Explanation**: In an ideal inductor, energy is stored in the magnetic field when current flows through it. In an ideal capacitor, energy is stored in the electric field when voltage is applied across it. This energy is not lost but is instead returned to the circuit. Therefore, reactive power does not result in energy dissipation as heat.

### Incorrect Answers:

- **A: It is dissipated as heat in the circuit**  
  - **Explanation**: Reactive power does not result in heat dissipation. Heat dissipation is associated with resistive components, not reactive components like ideal inductors and capacitors.

- **C: It is canceled by Coulomb forces in the capacitor and inductor**  
  - **Explanation**: Coulomb forces are related to electric charges, but they do not cancel reactive power. Reactive power involves the storage and release of energy, not cancellation by forces.

- **D: It is dissipated in the formation of inductive and capacitive fields**  
  - **Explanation**: The formation of inductive and capacitive fields involves energy storage, not dissipation. In ideal components, this energy is conserved and returned to the circuit.

### Useful Formulas:

- **Reactive Power ($Q$)**:  
  Reactive power is measured in volt-amperes reactive (VAR) and is given by:  
  $$ Q = V \cdot I \cdot \sin(\phi) $$  
  where:
  - $V$ = voltage across the component
  - $I$ = current through the component
  - $\phi$ = phase angle between voltage and current

- **Energy Storage**:  
  - **Inductor**: Energy stored ($W_L$) is given by:  
    $$ W_L = \frac{1}{2} L I^2 $$  
    where $L$ is the inductance and $I$ is the current.
  - **Capacitor**: Energy stored ($W_C$) is given by:  
    $$ W_C = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 $$  
    where $C$ is the capacitance and $V$ is the voltage.

These formulas illustrate how energy is stored in the fields of inductors and capacitors without being dissipated.