In the context of electricity, what does an increase in phase angle typically indicate?

An increase in phase angle typically indicates high reactance in an electrical circuit. Reactance is the measure of opposition that inductors and capacitors present to the flow of alternating current (AC). It causes the current to lag or lead the voltage, depending on whether the circuit is inductive or capacitive. When the phase angle increases, it often signifies that either inductive or capacitive reactance is becoming more significant relative to the resistance in the circuit.

In AC circuits, the impedance is a combination of resistance and reactance. A higher phase angle suggests that the reactance component (due to inductance or capacitance) is greater compared to the resistive component. This can lead to less efficient current flow, as the voltage and current are not in phase with each other, thus highlighting the dominance of reactance in the circuit dynamics. Such conditions often manifest in systems that operate near their limits or where significant inductive loads are present, confirming the concept of high reactance.