Reactance
/riˈæktəns/Noun
In electrical engineering, reactance is the opposition that a circuit offers to a change in current or voltage due to inductance or capacitance.
The reactance of the circuit increased as the frequency of the electrical signal rose.
Usage tips
Neutral
inductive reactance,capacitive reactance,total reactance
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Definition
Understand that reactance is not the same as resistance, as it varies with frequency.
For example, capacitive reactance decreases with increasing frequency, while inductive reactance increases.
Pro Tip 2/3Context
In electrical engineering, refer to both inductance and capacitance for a complete understanding of reactance.
One might hear engineers discuss the reactance when designing circuits.
Pro Tip 3/3Nuance
In psychology, reactance refers to a person's emotional reaction against perceived threats to their freedoms.
This might manifest when someone feels coerced into making a decision.
Compare with
resistanceimpedanceinductancecapacitancedefiance
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