What does an inductive load cause on the power factor meter?

An inductive load is characterized by its ability to store energy in the form of a magnetic field. When an inductive load is connected to an AC circuit, it causes the current to lag behind the voltage. This is because the current takes time to build up as the magnetic field in the inductor forms, resulting in a phase difference where the current waveform reaches its peak after the voltage waveform.

In a purely inductive circuit, the power factor will be less than one, indicating that not all of the power is being used effectively for work. The lagging current means that the actual power consumed (real power) is less than the apparent power, and this relationship is critical for understanding the efficiency of AC circuits involving inductive components.

The other options describe relationships that do not accurately represent the behavior of an inductive load—such as voltage and current being in phase or both lagging, which does not occur in the context of typical inductive loads. Thus, the correct interpretation of an inductive load's effect on the power factor meter indicates that it causes current to lag behind voltage.