What unit is used to measure inductive reactance?

Inductive reactance is a measure of the opposition that an inductor presents to the flow of alternating current (AC) due to its inductance. The unit of measure for inductive reactance is the ohm, which is the standard unit for measuring resistance and reactance in electrical circuits. This characteristic of inductors arises from the property of inductance, which generates a magnetic field in response to the current flow; changes in current lead to voltage that opposes the change, thereby influencing how current flows in the circuit.

The ohm reflects not only the resistance but also the effect of reactance, which takes into account both inductive and capacitive components when dealing with AC signals. Thus, for measuring how much an inductor impedes the current, the ohm is the appropriate unit.

In contrast, the other units mentioned serve different functions in electrical measurements: the farad measures capacitance, the watt measures power, and the volt measures electric potential. Therefore, understanding inductive reactance requires recognizing that it is expressed in ohms due to its nature in AC circuits.