What component is combined with an inductor to create a resonant circuit?

A resonant circuit is formed by combining an inductor with a capacitor. This combination creates a circuit that can oscillate at a specific frequency, known as the resonant frequency. The inductor stores energy in a magnetic field when current flows through it, while the capacitor stores energy in an electric field when it is charged.

When these two components are paired, they have the ability to exchange energy back and forth, leading to oscillations at the resonant frequency determined by the values of the inductance and capacitance. This characteristic is utilized in various applications such as tuning radios and filtering signals.

The other components mentioned do not create a resonant circuit with an inductor. A resistor primarily dissipates energy as heat and helps in controlling current, a Zener diode is used for voltage regulation, and a potentiometer functions as a variable resistor but does not contribute to resonance in the same manner as a capacitor does.