What factor governs reactance at a specific frequency?

At a specific frequency, reactance is governed by either inductance or capacitance, depending on whether the circuit element is an inductor or a capacitor. In the case of inductors, reactance increases with frequency, following the formula for inductive reactance, which is given by the product of the inductance and the angular frequency of the signal (reactance = 2πfL). This means that as the frequency increases, the reactance presented by the inductor becomes greater, causing it to oppose the current flow more significantly.

Because the question specifically addresses the governing factor of reactance at a specific frequency, focusing on the frequency-dependent behavior of inductance shows that inductors indeed determine the reactance encountered at that frequency. This is critical for understanding how alternating current (AC) behaves in circuits, where inductors react differently compared to resistors or capacitors based on the alternating signal's frequency.

Other options like impedance, capacitance, or resistance do not encapsulate the frequency response governing reactance. Impedance incorporates both resistance and reactance into a single complex quantity, while capacitance, although it also influences reactance, does so differently and is more about the opposition to AC due to charge storage at a given frequency. Resistance