Reactive power (PL) is best described as?

Reactive power is best described as the power that is stored in an inductor (or capacitor) and then returned to the source. This type of power does not perform any real work; instead, it oscillates between the source and the reactive components (like inductors and capacitors) in an electrical system. In alternating current (AC) circuits, reactive power is crucial because it allows for the establishment of electric and magnetic fields.

In this context, inductors store energy in a magnetic field and release it back to the circuit, while capacitors store energy in an electric field and can discharge it back into the circuit as well. This back-and-forth movement does not result in net energy consumption but is essential for the stability and efficiency of the power system, helping to maintain voltage levels necessary for the operation of electrical devices.

The other potential answers do not accurately represent reactive power:

• Power consumed and converted into work refers to active or real power, which is responsible for doing actual work in an electrical circuit.

• Power generated by resistive loads is also a reference to real power, which converts electrical energy into other forms, such as heat or mechanical energy.

• Power that is always equal to True Power misrepresents the relationship between true