Nate Core Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the NATE Core Test with detailed questions and answers. Boost your confidence with comprehensive explanations, flashcards, and multiple-choice quizzes. Ensure your success on the exam day!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

How is the power factor calculated for a device with given wattage and current?

Using Voltage divided by Current
Using Watts divided by Amperes
Using Power divided by Volt-Amperes
Using Current multiplied by Voltage

The correct answer is: Using Power divided by Volt-Amperes

The power factor is a measure of how effectively electrical power is being converted into useful work output, and it can be calculated using the relationship between real power (measured in watts) and apparent power (measured in volt-amperes). To find the power factor, you take the real power consumed by the device, which is expressed in watts, and divide it by the apparent power. Apparent power is calculated as the product of the voltage and the current (in volt-amperes). Thus, the formula for power factor is: Power Factor = Real Power (Watts) / Apparent Power (Volt-Amperes) This illustrates why the correct calculation involves using watts divided by volt-amperes; it directly correlates the actual power consumed to the total power supplied, allowing one to assess how efficiently the electrical power is being used within the device. A power factor closer to 1 indicates a more efficient device, while a value less than 1 suggests inefficiencies in power consumption.