Reactance

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Reactance \Re*act"ance\ (r[-e]*[a^]k"tans), n. [React + -ance.]
     (Elec.)
     The influence of a coil of wire upon an alternating current
     passing through it, tending to choke or diminish the current,
     or the similar influence of a condenser; inductive
     resistance. Reactance is measured in ohms. The reactance of a


     circuit is equal to the component of the impressed
     electro-motive force at right angles to the current divided
     by the current, that is, the component of the impedance due
     to the self-inductance or capacity of the circuit.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  reactance
       n : opposition to the flow of electric current resulting from
           inductance and capacitance (rather than resistance)