One difference between a reactance and a resistance in an alternating current circuit is
Answer Details
In an alternating current circuit, resistance and reactance are two important properties that determine the flow of current. Resistance is a property that resists the flow of current in a circuit and dissipates energy in the form of heat. On the other hand, reactance is a property that opposes the flow of current due to the presence of capacitance or inductance in the circuit.
One main difference between resistance and reactance is that energy is dissipated in a resistance, while energy is not dissipated in a reactance. In a resistance, the energy of the current is converted into heat, and some of the electrical energy is lost in the form of heat. In contrast, a reactance stores energy in the form of an electric or magnetic field and releases it back into the circuit when the polarity of the current changes. Therefore, a reactance does not dissipate energy but stores and releases it.
Another difference is that the current in a reactance can be lower than in a resistance, depending on the frequency of the alternating current and the type of reactance (capacitive or inductive). In a capacitive reactance, the current leads the voltage, while in an inductive reactance, the current lags the voltage. This means that the reactance can cause the current to be out of phase with the voltage, resulting in a lower net current flowing through the circuit.
In summary, resistance dissipates energy in the form of heat while reactance stores and releases energy. The current in a reactance can be lower than in a resistance depending on the frequency of the alternating current and the type of reactance.