True power in an electrical circuit is primarily used by which type of load?

True power, often referred to as "active power," is defined as the actual power consumed by a load to do useful work and is measured in watts (W). In electrical circuits, true power is primarily utilized by resistive loads, which include devices that convert electrical energy into other forms of energy, such as heat or light.

Resistive loads, such as incandescent light bulbs, electric heaters, and toasters, operate in a way that the current and voltage are in phase – meaning that they reach their peak values at the same time. In these types of loads, all the power supplied is converted into useful work, resulting in high power efficiency.

In contrast, inductive and capacitive loads are characterized by a difference in phase between voltage and current, which leads to reactive power that does not contribute to useful work. Instead, reactive power is associated with the oscillation of energy in the magnetic or electric fields of the inductors and capacitors, respectively. While these loads may consume significant amounts of power, the true power they contribute to the system is lower than that of resistive loads.