Q4Basic Electrical Engineering
Question
Q.4 What is power factor?
Answer
Power factor is precisely the mathematical cosine of the phase angle difference between voltage and current, representing the exact ratio of real active power to apparent power.
In alternating current (AC) circuit analysis, the power factor is an absolutely critical dimensionless parameter that mathematically measures the efficiency of electrical power transfer. It is rigorously defined as the exact ratio of the actual real power (P, measured in Watts) absorbed by the physical load to the total apparent power (S, measured in Volt-Amperes) flowing entirely in the circuit.
Geometrically, it represents the exact cosine of the phase angle () strictly between the alternating voltage and current waveforms. Its numerical value is strictly bounded between absolutely 0 and exactly 1, indicating the load's resistive vs. reactive nature.