What is typically the power factor of a capacitive load?

What is typically the power factor of a capacitive load?

• A. Greater than 1
• B. Equal to 1
• C. Less than 1
• D. Zero

Answer: (C)

The power factor of a capacitive load is typically less than 1. This is due to the relationship between the voltage and current in AC circuits. In capacitive loads, the current leads the voltage phase, indicating that the load consumes reactive power in addition to real power. Since the power factor is defined as the ratio of real power to apparent power, and capacitive loads are characterized by increased reactive power, the power factor ends up being a fraction, placing it under 1. A power factor of greater than 1 would imply that the load is producing more power than it is consuming, which is not possible in normal operation. A power factor equal to 1 denotes purely resistive loads where all the power is converted into useful work without any reactive component. A power factor of zero would indicate that there is no real power being used in the circuit, which can only occur in purely reactive circuits, such as ideal inductors or capacitors, but is not applicable to typical capacitive loads. Therefore, a capacitive load consistently exhibits a power factor that is less than 1, as it draws both reactive and real power from the source.

The power factor of a capacitive load is typically less than 1. This is due to the relationship between the voltage and current in AC circuits. In capacitive loads, the current leads the voltage phase, indicating that the load consumes reactive power in addition to real power. Since the power factor is defined as the ratio of real power to apparent power, and capacitive loads are characterized by increased reactive power, the power factor ends up being a fraction, placing it under 1.

A power factor of greater than 1 would imply that the load is producing more power than it is consuming, which is not possible in normal operation. A power factor equal to 1 denotes purely resistive loads where all the power is converted into useful work without any reactive component. A power factor of zero would indicate that there is no real power being used in the circuit, which can only occur in purely reactive circuits, such as ideal inductors or capacitors, but is not applicable to typical capacitive loads.

Therefore, a capacitive load consistently exhibits a power factor that is less than 1, as it draws both reactive and real power from the source.