In a capacitive circuit, the relationship between voltage and current is shown by which of the following?

Prepare for your Electrical Apprenticeship Year 2 L8-20 Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations to ace your exam!

In a capacitive circuit, the relationship between voltage and current is characterized by the fact that the voltage lags behind the current. This phenomenon occurs because capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field and take some time to charge and discharge.

When alternating current (AC) flows through a capacitor, the current reaches its peak value before the voltage does. This is because the capacitor initially allows current to pass as it charges, but the voltage across the capacitor does not reach its maximum until after the current has peaked. This creates a phase difference where the current waveform peaks earlier than the voltage waveform, resulting in the voltage lagging the current in time.

In mathematical terms, this is often expressed using phasor representation, where the current phasor is ahead of the voltage phasor by 90 degrees in ideal capacitive conditions. Thus, understanding this relationship is crucial for analyzing and designing circuits that include capacitors, as it directly impacts the circuit's overall behavior and efficiency.

The other options do not accurately describe the phase relationship in a capacitive circuit.

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