Extra exam question E5C09
Subelement E5, ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES· Group E5C
When using rectangular coordinates to graph the impedance of a circuit, what do the axes represent?
- A.The X axis represents the resistive component, and the Y axis represents the reactive component (correct answer)
- B.The X axis represents the reactive component, and the Y axis represents the resistive component
- C.The X axis represents the phase angle, and the Y axis represents the magnitude
- D.The X axis represents the magnitude, and the Y axis represents the phase angle
WhyWhen impedance is graphed in rectangular coordinates, the X axis represents the resistive component and the Y axis represents the reactive component. When impedance is graphed in rectangular coordinates, the X (horizontal) axis represents the resistive component and the Y (vertical) axis represents the reactive component, letting a complex impedance be plotted as a single point defined by its resistance and reactance, answer A. Swapping which axis is which, or plotting magnitude and phase angle instead of resistance and reactance, describes a different coordinate scheme than standard rectangular impedance plotting.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2024-2028 NCVEC Element 4 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
Related questions
- E5C01Which of the following represents pure capacitive reactance of 100 ohms in rectangular notation?
- E5C02How are impedances described in polar coordinates?
- E5C03Which of the following represents a pure inductive reactance in polar coordinates?
- E5C04What type of Y-axis scale is most often used for graphs of circuit frequency response?
- E5C05What kind of diagram is used to show the phase relationship between impedances at a given frequency?