The angular difference, measured in degrees or radians, between a specific point on an alternating current or voltage waveform and a reference point. In AC circuits containing reactive components like capacitors and inductors, the current and voltage waveforms shift out of alignment, creating a phase angle that determines the true power delivered to a load.
The motor's high inductance is causing a 45-degree phase angle between voltage and current, ruining our power factor.
Related terms
Capacitor
A passive two-terminal component that stores electrical energy in an electric field.
Inductor
A passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it.
Phase-locked loop
A control system that generates an output signal whose phase is related to the phase of an input signal.