Agricultural Engineering Practice Exam

In an inductive circuit, a power factor of less than one signifies that the circuit is primarily reactive, meaning it has a significant reactive power component in relation to its real power. A power factor indicates the phase difference between the voltage and current waveforms; when this factor is less than one, it points to the presence of more reactance than resistance, which is the behavior observed in inductive circuits.

The reactive component, which can be attributed to inductors, introduces a delay between the current and voltage, leading to a lower power factor. This is because in inductive loads, the current lags behind the voltage, and the energy periodically stored in the magnetic field of the inductor does not contribute to the actual work done or real power used.

Understanding the components of power factor helps in diagnosing circuit issues, optimizing energy usage, and improving efficiency in power systems.