What characterizes a lagging power factor in an AC circuit?

A lagging power factor in an AC circuit is characterized by the current phase lagging behind the voltage phase. This means that the peak of the current waveform occurs later than the peak of the voltage waveform. This relationship is commonly seen in circuits with inductive loads, such as motors and transformers, where the inductance causes the current to take longer to reach its peak value compared to the voltage.

In a lagging power factor scenario, the phase difference between the voltage and current results in reactive power in the system. This reactive power is a critical aspect to consider in power systems, as it affects the overall efficiency and capacity of the electrical network.

The presence of a lagging power factor indicates that the circuit is primarily inductive, which is a typical characteristic of electrical equipment that relies on magnetic fields. Understanding this concept is essential for evaluating electrical performance, sizes of conductors, and the design of power factor correction measures.