How do active power and apparent power differ?

Active power and apparent power are fundamental concepts in electrical engineering that help to understand how power is utilized in AC circuits.

Active power, also known as real power or true power, refers to the actual power consumed by the circuit to perform useful work. It is measured in watts (W) and represents the energy that is converted into work (such as lighting a bulb, powering a motor, etc.). This power is associated with resistive loads, where current and voltage are in phase.

On the other hand, apparent power is defined as the product of the current and voltage in an AC circuit and is measured in volt-amperes (VA). Apparent power takes into account both the real power and the reactive power, which is power that oscillates between the source and the load due to inductance and capacitance, but does not do any useful work.

This distinction highlights that while active power is the actual work done, apparent power provides a broader picture of power in a circuit, incorporating both usable power and the power that is stored and released but not consumed. Therefore, the correct answer correctly describes the nature of both types of power in a clear and precise manner.