In a parallel RC circuit, the resistor branch carries 3 A RMS and the capacitor branch carries 4 A RMS. Determine the total current and the power factor.
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Question

In a parallel RC circuit, the resistor branch carries 3 A RMS and the capacitor branch carries 4 A RMS. Determine the total current and the power factor.

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

The two branch currents are 90° apart, so I = √(3²+4²)=5 A. The in-phase component is 3 A, hence power factor = 3/5. Because the reactive current is capacitive, the power factor is leading.