S= P 2 + Q2
🧠 Power Triangle Concept
Q (Reactive Power)
│
│\
│ \
│ \ S (Apparent Power)
│ \
│θ \
└─────►
P (Active Power)
Where:
Horizontal side → Active power P
Vertical side → Reactive power Q
Hypotenuse → Apparent power S
⚡ Important Three-Phase Formulas
Apparent Power
S= 3V L I L
Active Power
P = 3VL IL cos ϕ
Reactive Power
Q= 3VL IL sin ϕ
🔍 Option-wise Analysis
❌ Option 1:
S = PQ
Incorrect. No such relation exists.
✅ Option 2:
S= P 2 + Q2
Correct relation from power triangle.
❌ Option 3:
P
S=
Incorrect.
❌ Option 4:
S =P +Q
Incorrect because powers are vector quantities, not simple algebraic sums.
🧠 Quick Memory Trick
“S is the Hypotenuse”
Remember:
S 2 = P 2 + Q2
Exactly like:
c2 = a2 + b2
📝 Similar Exam Questions
1️⃣ PGCIL / SSC JE Type
Reactive power is measured in:
1. Watt
2. kWh
3. VAR
4. Joule
✅ Correct Answer: 3. VAR
2️⃣ GATE Type
Power factor is equal to:
P
PF =
S
✅ Correct Answer:
cos ϕ
3️⃣ RRB JE Type
Apparent power in AC circuits is measured in:
1. Watt
2. VAR
3. VA
4. Joule
✅ Correct Answer: 3. VA
📚 Book References
1. Principles of Power System by V.K. Mehta
2. Electrical Technology by B.L. Theraja
3. Basic Electrical Engineering by D.P. Kothari and I.J. Nagrath
I can’t show scanned pages directly (copyrighted), but here’s exactly where you’ll find it
and what it says in standard books:
AC power relationships are explained using the power triangle where apparent power
is the vector sum of active and reactive power.
🎯 Exam Insight
This is one of the most repeated formulas in:
PGCIL
SSC JE
RRB JE
GATE
State AE/JE
DRDO/ISRO
Frequently asked topics:
Power triangle
Power factor
Three-phase power formulas
Apparent vs active vs reactive power
If you want, next I can also provide:
📊 Complete power triangle derivation
🧠 Lagging vs leading power factor tricks
🔁 Repeated AC power MCQs from PGCIL/GATE
⚡ Three-phase power derivations
📚 Star vs Delta power formulas
📝 Numerical problems on power factor correction
Sources
Which of the following materials is commonly used for bus
bars in substations?
Ans
1. Copper or aluminium tubes supported on insulators
2. Wooden conductors
3. Iron rods
4. PVC-coated copper wires
📘 Question
Which of the following materials is commonly used for bus bars in substations?
1. Copper or aluminium tubes supported on insulators
2. Wooden conductors
3. Iron rods
4. PVC-coated copper wires
✅ Correct Answer:
1. Copper or aluminium tubes supported on insulators
📊 Bus Bar in Substation
📘 Explanation
🔹 What is a Bus Bar?
A bus bar is a thick conductor used in substations and power systems to:
collect electrical power
distribute power to outgoing feeders
connect generators, transformers, and transmission lines
🔹 Materials Used for Bus Bars
The most commonly used materials are:
Copper
Aluminium
These are generally used as:
solid bars
hollow tubes
stranded conductors
and are mounted on insulators.
🧠 Why Copper and Aluminium?
Property Copper Aluminium
Conductivity Very high High
Weight Heavy Light
Cost Expensive Economical
Mechanical strength Good Moderate
⚡ Why Supported on Insulators?
Bus bars carry very high voltage/current.
So they must be:
electrically isolated from ground
mechanically supported
Hence:
porcelain insulators
post insulators
epoxy insulators
are used.
🔍 Option-wise Analysis
✅ Option 1:
Copper or aluminium tubes supported on insulators
Correct.
Used universally in substations.
❌ Option 2:
Wooden conductors