___ power is the power required to supply both resistive and reactive components of a load.

The term "apparent power" refers to the total power in an AC circuit, comprising both the resistive (real) power and the reactive power. It is measured in volt-amperes (VA) and represents the combination of the power consumed by the load for useful work and the power that oscillates back and forth between the source and the reactive components, such as inductors and capacitors.

The significance of apparent power lies in its role in understanding how electrical systems operate under AC conditions, where components can store energy in magnetic or electric fields. This stored energy does not perform work in the way that real power does but is essential for the functionality of reactive components. Therefore, in a circuit with both resistive and reactive elements, the total power required to satisfy these components is referred to as apparent power.