Final answer:
The power factor can be calculated by finding the impedance of the load branch and calculating the ratio of real power to total apparent power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The power factor of a star-connected alternator supplying a delta-connected load can be determined by finding the impedance of the load branch and calculating the ratio of the real power to the total apparent power.
In this case, the impedance of the load branch is given as (8 + j6) ohm/phase. To calculate the power factor, we need to find the magnitude of the impedance, which is √(8² + 6²) = 10 ohm. Then, we can calculate the power factor as the real power divided by the apparent power, which is given by the formula cos(θ), where θ is the angle of the impedance. In this case, the power factor would be 8/10 = 0.8.