When the circuit is balanced, all the energy released by the inductor is absorbed by which component?

In a balanced circuit, particularly in the context of RLC (Resistor, Inductor, Capacitor) circuits, the energy released by the inductor is primarily absorbed by the capacitor. When the circuit operates in a steady state, the inductor stores energy in its magnetic field when current flows through it. When the current changes, the inductor releases this stored energy back into the circuit.

In a resonant or balanced state, this energy transfer occurs between the inductor and the capacitor. The inductor's release of energy causes a change in voltage, which is then absorbed by the capacitor. This dynamic ensures that energy oscillates between the inductor and capacitor, allowing the circuit to maintain its oscillatory behavior without energy loss (assuming ideal conditions).

The other components mentioned have different roles: the resistor dissipates energy as heat, the power supply provides energy to the circuit, and the transformer typically serves to transfer electrical energy between circuits through electromagnetic induction. However, when focusing on the immediate energy transfer and absorption during the oscillation in a balanced RLC circuit, the capacitor is indeed the component that absorbs the inductor's released energy.