Red Seal Electrician Practice
Power factor and three-phaseQuestion 1156 of 1506

Which circuit property sets the true power in an AC circuit?

  1. The reactance
  2. The resistance
  3. The total impedance
  4. The supply frequency only
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Correct answer: The resistance

True power depends on the dissipative parts (usually resistance). Reactive power depends on reactance, and apparent power on impedance.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits II: AC (Kuphaldt), 11.2: True, Reactive, and Apparent Power

Practice power factor and three-phase

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026