Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC ) Electrical Practice Test

Which of the following would be considered an inductive load?

1. Resistor

2. Capacitor

3. Electric motor

4. Transformer

The correct answer is: Electric motor

An electric motor is considered an inductive load because it relies on electromagnetic induction to operate. When current flows through the motor's coils, it creates a magnetic field that interacts with the motor's rotor, causing it to turn and perform work. This interaction is a fundamental characteristic of inductive loads, which typically involve coils of wire and magnetic fields. Inductive loads, such as electric motors and transformers, tend to consume reactive power in addition to active power, leading to a phase difference between voltage and current. This is crucial in understanding the electrical behavior of circuits powered by alternating current (AC), as inductive loads can affect power factor and overall system efficiency. Other components, like resistors and capacitors, serve different purposes; resistors mainly dissipate energy in the form of heat without creating magnetic fields, while capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field, providing a different nature of load to an electrical circuit.