If a single-phase circuit has 120 V, using 10 A with a power factor of 0.8, what is the apparent power?

To determine the apparent power in a single-phase circuit, the formula to use is:

Apparent Power (S) = Voltage (V) × Current (I)

In this case, the circuit operates at a voltage of 120 volts and has a current of 10 amperes. By substituting these values into the formula, we get:

S = 120 V × 10 A = 1,200 VA

The result, 1,200 volt-amperes (VA), represents the apparent power, which is the total power flowing in the circuit without considering the phase difference caused by the power factor. Apparent power is measured in volt-amperes and includes both real power (the power consumed by the circuit) and reactive power (the power that oscillates back and forth).

It is important to differentiate between apparent power and real power. Real power, which is also known as active power, takes into account the power factor. It can be calculated using the formula:

Real Power (P) = Voltage (V) × Current (I) × Power Factor

In this question, the focus is solely on apparent power, which is why the correct answer is 1,200 VA. While other calculations involving the power factor