What term describes the opposition to current flow due to a change in voltage or current?

Prepare for the 4th Year Lineman Apprentice Exam. Study with interactive resources including flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get exam-ready today!

The term that best describes the opposition to current flow due to a change in voltage or current is reactance. Reactance specifically refers to the opposition to alternating current (AC) caused by inductance and capacitance in a circuit. When voltage or current changes in an AC system, the components that exhibit reactance respond to those changes, leading to impedance variations and affecting the overall current flow.

Resistance, while related, specifically refers to the opposition to direct current (DC) and does not account for the effects introduced by changing voltage or current in an AC circuit. Impedance combines both resistance and reactance and is a broader term that encompasses the total opposition to current flow in an AC system, but it does not specifically focus on the response to changes in voltage or current. Inductance refers specifically to a property of an electrical component that causes it to oppose changes in current but does not account for the effect in the context of AC signal changes on its own. Thus, reactance is the most accurate term in this scenario, as it directly addresses the opposition attributable to those changes.

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