What is the property of a conductor that allows for the storage of electric charges?

Capacitance is the property of a conductor that allows it to store electric charges. This characteristic arises from the ability of a conductor to hold an electric charge when a voltage is applied across it. Essentially, capacitance measures the capacity of a conductor to store electrical energy in an electric field, which occurs between two conductive plates separated by an insulator. When a voltage difference exists, electrons accumulate on one plate, creating an electric field that influences the charge distribution and facilitates energy storage.

Understanding capacitance is crucial in various applications, such as in capacitors used in circuits for filtering, timing, and energy storage. By analyzing the relationship between voltage, charge, and capacitance, one can predict how capacitors will behave in a circuit, making this property fundamental for electrical and electronic engineering design.