Definitions of power and related quantities

Definitions of power, power factor, and related quantities in an a-c circuit have been prepared in an effort to provide definitions which will be generally acceptable. If such general acceptance is obtained, they will be published as a part of the revised report on “Definitions of Electrical Terms” which is being prepared by the Sectional Committee on Electrical Definitions. The authors were requested to prepare this paper to give to engineers an understanding of the principles which have guided the preparation of the proposed definitions and to provide opportunity for their discussion. The definitions cover the entire field of single-phase and polyphase circuits. The explanations start with simple circuits and lead to the more complex.