What is the term for the opposing force to the flow of alternating current?

The term for the opposing force to the flow of alternating current is reactance. Reactance is the measure of how much an inductor or capacitor resists the change in current or voltage in an AC circuit. It arises due to the unique properties of inductors and capacitors, which store energy temporarily and release it back into the circuit.

In an AC system, both resistance and reactance contribute to the overall opposition to current flow; however, reactance specifically refers to the opposition that varies with the frequency of the alternating current. This means that in an AC circuit, reactance can change with different frequencies, unlike resistance, which remains constant regardless of the frequency. The total opposition that combines both resistance and reactance is called impedance, but if the focus is solely on the frequency-dependent aspect, reactance is the appropriate term.

Understanding reactance is crucial for electrical professionals, as it affects how circuits behave under AC conditions, influencing design and troubleshooting in electrical systems.