In an AC circuit, what does the term 'impedance' refer to?
Practice Questions
Q1
In an AC circuit, what does the term 'impedance' refer to?
Resistance only
Total opposition to current
Voltage drop
Current flow
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In an AC circuit, what does the term 'impedance' refer to?
Correct Answer: Impedance is the total opposition to AC current.
Step 1: Understand that AC stands for alternating current, which is a type of electrical current that changes direction periodically.
Step 2: Know that in any electrical circuit, there are two main factors that affect how easily current can flow: resistance and reactance.
Step 3: Resistance is the opposition to current flow that generates heat, like a light bulb or a resistor.
Step 4: Reactance is the opposition to current flow caused by capacitors and inductors, which store energy in electric and magnetic fields.
Step 5: Impedance combines both resistance and reactance into one measurement, showing the total opposition to the flow of alternating current in the circuit.
