In a circuit with a significant portion of its impedance made up of inductive reactance, what can be expected regarding the power factor?

In a circuit where a significant portion of its impedance is due to inductive reactance, a low power factor and lagging current are expected. This is primarily because inductive loads, such as motors and transformers, store energy in magnetic fields and release it back into the circuit.

The presence of inductive reactance results in a phase difference where the current lags behind the voltage. This lagging current is a defining characteristic of circuits with inductance. Additionally, the power factor is a measure of how effectively the electrical power is being converted into useful work output. When inductive reactance dominates, the phase angle between voltage and current increases, leading to a lower power factor. A low power factor indicates that a significant portion of the power is not being utilized effectively for productive work, representing energy losses primarily due to reactive power in the inductive components.

Thus, when faced with a circuit exhibiting strong inductive characteristics, one can confidently identify that the power factor will be low and the current will lag behind the voltage.