A passive element is an electrical component that does not generate power, but instead dissipate stores, and release it. Passive elements include resistances capacitor s, and coils (also called inductors.) “Active element. The elements that supply energy, to the circuit is called active element. Examples of active elements include voltage and current sources, generator s and electronic devices that require power supplies. A transistor is an active circuit element, meaning that it can amplify power of a signal.