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V. Conceptual Questions · Q26

Q.When does power factor of a series RLC circuit become maximum?

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Step 1. Power factor is cos⁡ϕ=R/Z\cos\phi=R/Z, where Z=R2+(XL−XC)2≥RZ=\sqrt{R^2+(X_L-X_C)^2}\geq R always (since the second term under the square root can never be negative).

Step 2. Because Z is always at least as large as R, the ratio R/Z is always at most 1, with the maximum value of exactly 1 achieved precisely when Z=RZ=R.

Step 3. Z=RZ=R requires the extra term (XL−XC)2(X_L-X_C)^2 to vanish, i.e. XL=XCX_L=X_C -- exactly the condition for electrical resonance in a series RLC circuit. …

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