Reaktanssisiin

Reaktanssisiin is a Finnish term that translates to "reactance" in English. It describes the opposition to the flow of alternating current (AC) due to the presence of inductors and capacitors in a circuit. Unlike resistance, which dissipates energy as heat, reactance stores and releases energy in magnetic (inductors) or electric (capacitors) fields.

There are two primary types of reactance: inductive reactance and capacitive reactance. Inductive reactance, denoted by XL, increases with frequency and is proportional to the inductance of the component. It causes the current to lag behind the voltage. Capacitive reactance, denoted by XC, decreases with frequency and is inversely proportional to the capacitance. It causes the current to lead the voltage.

The total opposition to AC current flow in a circuit containing both resistance and reactance is called impedance. Impedance is a complex quantity, meaning it has both a real part (resistance) and an imaginary part (reactance). It is often represented by the symbol Z and is measured in ohms, just like resistance. Understanding reactance is crucial for analyzing and designing AC circuits, as it affects the behavior of circuits at different frequencies and influences power transfer.