An RLC series circuit has an applied voltage of 240 volts. R = 48 Ω and the voltage across it is 96 V. What is the circuit power factor?
A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 40%
D) 50%

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The circuit power factor is the ratio of the real power to the apparent power. The real power is the power that is dissipated in the resistor, and the apparent power is the product of the applied voltage and the current. The current in the circuit is given by the voltage across the resistor divided by the resistance, so the apparent power is:```S = VI = (96 V) / (48 Ω) = 2 A```The real power is:```P = I^2R = (2 A)^2(48 Ω) = 192 W```Therefore, the circuit power factor is:```pf = P/S = 192 W / 2 A = 0.4 = 40%```

An RLC Series Circuit Has an Applied Voltage of 240