What is the total opposition to the flow of current in an AC circuit known as?

The correct term for the total opposition to the flow of current in an AC circuit is impedance. Impedance encompasses both resistance and reactance, providing a complete measure of how much the circuit opposes the electric current.

In AC circuits, not only resistance plays a role, but also reactance, which is the opposition due to capacitance and inductance within the circuit. Impedance combines these two elements into a single complex quantity, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of how current interacts within the circuit.

Resistance measures the opposition to current flow that is constant regardless of frequency, while reactance varies with frequency. This is why impedance is particularly relevant in AC circuits where current changes direction periodically. The concept of an inductive load is related but specific to devices that introduce inductance into the circuit, meaning it doesn’t capture the entire range of opposition present in an AC circuit like impedance does.