What term describes the combination of resistance and reactance that restricts the flow of alternating current?

The term that describes the combination of resistance and reactance that restricts the flow of alternating current is impedance. Impedance is a comprehensive measure that includes not only resistance, which opposes current flow in a circuit, but also reactance, which represents the opposition to the change in current due to capacitance and inductance in the circuit. This means that when dealing with alternating current, impedance provides a more complete understanding of how the circuit behaves under such conditions. In essence, it combines the effects of resistive and reactive elements, enabling better analysis and design of AC circuits.

Resistance, while a critical factor, accounts only for the opposition due to resistive elements and does not consider the effects of reactance. Capacitance and inductance specifically refer to components that store energy in electric fields and magnetic fields, respectively, rather than describing the overall opposition to current flow in an alternating current scenario. Therefore, impedance is the most accurate term for this combination, making it essential for anyone studying AC circuits and their characteristics.