Final answer:
The amount two electrical waveforms are out of phase is measured in degrees, which express the phase displacement between two periodic signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount two electrical waveforms are out of phase is measured in degrees. This measurement indicates the difference in the progression of wave cycles between two waveforms. When the waveforms are completely out of sync, the phase difference might be 180°, which means they are half a cycle out of phase. Conversely, if two waveforms are completely in sync, their phase difference is 0°. The concept of phase is important when analyzing AC circuits, for example, where a capacitor can cause the voltage and current to be out of phase by 90°.
It is important to note that the phase difference is not measured in amperes (which measure electric current), volts (which measure electric potential difference), or hertz (which measure frequency). Rather, degrees are a unit used to express the phase displacement between two periodic signals.