Question 134Electricity & Electronics - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is D) prolong the life of the component's contacts. The capacitor in component "5" of the circuit shown in figure "B" of illustration EL-0081 is used to prolong the life of the component's contacts. When a circuit is opened or closed, the inductive reactance in the circuit can cause arcing across the contacts, which can eventually lead to wear and failure. The capacitor helps to dissipate this inductive energy, reducing the arcing and prolonging the life of the contacts. The other options are incorrect because: A) the capacitor is not used to counteract inductive reactance, B) the capacitor is not connected to a neon envelope, and C) the capacitor is not used to store power to operate the circuit.