A load in an electrical circuit is defined as

• A. Energy source
• B. Storage device
• C. Electrical resistance
• D. A device that converts electricity into work

Answer: (D)

In an electrical circuit, the load is the part that uses electrical power to perform work or produce a response. It draws current from the source and converts that energy into another form, such as light, heat, motion, or sound. This is why the description “a device that converts electricity into work” fits best—the load is the element that actually consumes energy to do something useful. The energy source provides power, a storage device like a battery or capacitor stores energy for later use, and resistance is a property describing how a component impedes current—though a resistor can be a load, the load concept covers any component that uses energy to perform work or create output.