The power factor of an AC circuit typically exists between which values?

The power factor of an AC circuit is defined as the cosine of the phase angle between the current and voltage waveforms. It indicates the efficiency with which electrical power is converted into useful work output. The power factor can only range from 0 to 1. A power factor of 1 indicates that all the energy supplied by the source is being used effectively, while a power factor of 0 means that there is no useful work being done, as all power is reactive.

The range between 0 and 1 is significant in electrical systems because it reflects how much of the total power is being used for productive work compared to how much is being wasted. In practical electrical systems, achieving a power factor of exactly 1 is often the goal, but due to various factors such as inductive or capacitive loads, it typically remains below 1.

Understanding that the power factor encapsulates the relationship between real power (kW) and apparent power (kVA) helps clarify why the other ranges presented are not feasible. For example, a power factor cannot exceed 1, making options that suggest values over that threshold invalid. Similarly, a negative or extremely low power factor, like the ranges starting from 0.5 to values above 1,