What is the ratio of true power to apparent power commonly referred to as?

The ratio of true power to apparent power is commonly referred to as power factor. This concept is significant in electrical systems as it indicates how effectively the electrical power is being converted into useful work output.

True power is measured in watts and represents the actual power consumed by the circuit to perform useful work, while apparent power combines both active and reactive power, expressed in volt-amperes (VA). The power factor is a unitless number between 0 and 1, or represented as a percentage, and it provides insights into how well the electrical power is used; a power factor of 1 indicates that all the power is being used effectively, while lower values indicate less efficient usage.

Understanding power factor is crucial for optimizing energy consumption, reducing costs, and ensuring that electrical systems operate efficiently.