A leading power factor indicates the load is

A leading power factor indicates the load is

• A. Lagging, inductive
• B. Unity, resistive
• C. Leading, capacitive
• D. Balanced, reactive

Answer: (C)

Power factor shows the phase relationship between voltage and current, indicating whether the load draws reactive power that leads or lags the voltage. A leading power factor means the current actually leads the voltage, which happens with capacitive effects. In capacitive loads, charge builds and releases in a way that makes the current peak before the voltage, so the current leads and the power factor is described as leading (capacitive) rather than lagging. Unity power factor would mean pure resistance with no reactive power, and lagging would point to inductive loads where current lags the voltage. So the best description for a leading power factor is that the load is leading, capacitive.

Power factor shows the phase relationship between voltage and current, indicating whether the load draws reactive power that leads or lags the voltage. A leading power factor means the current actually leads the voltage, which happens with capacitive effects. In capacitive loads, charge builds and releases in a way that makes the current peak before the voltage, so the current leads and the power factor is described as leading (capacitive) rather than lagging. Unity power factor would mean pure resistance with no reactive power, and lagging would point to inductive loads where current lags the voltage. So the best description for a leading power factor is that the load is leading, capacitive.