Which statement correctly describes power factor and a method to improve it in an inductive AC circuit?

• A. PF = cos(phi); inductive loads have leading phi; improve with capacitors in parallel.
• B. PF = cos(phi); inductive loads have lagging phi; improve with inductors in series.
• C. PF = cos(phi); inductive loads have lagging phi; improve with capacitive power factor correction by adding capacitors in parallel.
• D. PF = cos(phi); inductive loads have lagging phi; ignore PF.

Answer: (C)

Power factor is the cosine of the angle between voltage and current. In an inductive AC circuit, the current lags the voltage, so the phase angle is positive and the power factor is less than one. To improve it, you add capacitive power factor correction in parallel across the load. The capacitors supply leading reactive power, cancel part of the inductive reactance, reduce the phase angle, and push the power factor closer to unity. That matches the statement: PF = cos(phi); inductive loads have lagging phi; improve with capacitive power factor correction by adding capacitors in parallel. The other ideas misstate the phase relationship or the corrective approach (leading phi for inductive loads, series inductors, or ignoring PF).