An electric circuit is best described as:

• A. A device that stores energy
• B. A complete path through which a current can flow
• C. A measure of resistance
• D. A channel for heat transfer

Answer: (B)

An electric circuit is a closed loop that provides a complete path for current to flow from the source, through conductors and loads, and back to the source. The key idea is continuity: current can only keep moving if the loop is closed. If the path is broken, as with an open switch or a damaged wire, current stops.

Think of a simple flashlight: a battery, a bulb, and wires form a loop. When the switch is closed, the loop is complete and the bulb lights; when the switch opens, the loop is broken and the current stops. A device that stores energy (like a battery or capacitor) is a component inside the circuit, not the circuit’s definition. A measure of resistance describes how hard it is for current to flow through components, not what the circuit is. A channel for heat transfer describes thermal energy flow, not electrical current.