What is the formula used to calculate Apparent Power?

The formula to calculate Apparent Power (often denoted as S) is indeed derived from the multiplication of the current (I) and the voltage (V) RMS (Root Mean Square) values. Apparent Power is measured in volt-amperes (VA) and represents the total power in an AC circuit, both used and unused.

The relationship can be summarized as:

[ S = V_{RMS} \times I_{RMS} ]

where ( V_{RMS} ) is the RMS voltage and ( I_{RMS} ) is the RMS current. This formula emphasizes that Apparent Power considers both the active power, which does useful work, and the reactive power, which sustains the electric and magnetic fields in the circuit, making it a critical measure for understanding how effectively a power system operates.

The other options do not accurately reflect the principle of calculating Apparent Power. Dividing voltage by current does not yield a relevant power metric, and simply adding voltage and current does not relate to the calculation of power in electrical circuits. Squaring the current alone also does not directly provide a measure of power without considering voltage. Thus, the correct application of the formula highlights the fundamental relationship between voltage and current in