What is a characteristic of a capacitive load?

A characteristic of a capacitive load is that it stores electrical energy. This is because capacitors operate by accumulating electrical charge, which allows them to store energy in an electric field. When a voltage is applied across the capacitor, an electric field develops and energy is stored. This stored energy can then be released back into the circuit when needed.

In contrast, resistive loads dissipate energy in the form of heat, which is not true for capacitive loads. Magnetic fields are typically associated with inductive loads, which use coils to create magnetic energy; this is different from the energy storage mechanism of capacitors. Lastly, while capacitors can influence current flow in alternating current (AC) circuits through phase shifts, they do not inherently limit current flow like devices specifically designed to do so. Thus, the defining trait of storing electrical energy distinctly identifies capacitive loads.