Question

The energy that "sloshes in and out" of a load without causing any net power transfer is called the ____ and has units ____.

Answer 1

Reactive power is the energy that "sloshes in and out" of a load without causing any net power transfer. It has units VAR.

Step-by-step explanation:

The energy that "sloshes in and out" of a load without causing any net power transfer is called reactive power and has units VAR (volt-ampere reactive).

Reactive power arises from the flow of reactive energy, which is stored and released periodically in an alternating current (AC) circuit, such as inductive or capacitive elements. It does not contribute to the net power transfer in the circuit but affects the overall power system performance. For example, in an AC motor, when the magnetic field in the motor's coils changes, magnetic energy is stored and then released. This back-and-forth transfer of energy causes the reactive power but does not do any useful work.