1. What is Phase Angle?

The phase angle (θ) represents the phase difference between voltage and current in an AC circuit. It indicates whether the circuit is predominantly inductive or capacitive and determines the power factor of the system.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the phase angle formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Phase angle in degrees
• \( X \) — Reactance in ohms
• \( R \) — Resistance in ohms

Explanation: The arctangent function converts the ratio of reactance to resistance into an angle, representing the phase shift between voltage and current waveforms.

3. Importance of Phase Angle Calculation

Details: Phase angle calculation is crucial for power factor correction, circuit analysis, impedance matching, and understanding the behavior of AC circuits. It helps determine whether a circuit is resistive, inductive, or capacitive.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter reactance and resistance values in ohms. Both values must be positive and non-zero. The calculator will compute the phase angle in degrees.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a positive phase angle indicate?
A: A positive phase angle indicates an inductive circuit where current lags behind voltage.

Q2: What does a negative phase angle indicate?
A: A negative phase angle indicates a capacitive circuit where current leads voltage.

Q3: What is the range of phase angle values?
A: Phase angle typically ranges from -90° to +90°, with 0° representing a purely resistive circuit.

Q4: How is phase angle related to power factor?
A: Power factor = cos(θ), where θ is the phase angle. A phase angle of 0° gives unity power factor.

Q5: When is phase angle calculation most important?
A: In power systems, audio electronics, RF circuits, and any application where AC power efficiency and waveform analysis are critical.