Current, Wattless

Whenever there is a great difference in phase in an alternating current dynamo between volts and current, the true watts are much le than the product of the virtual volts and amperes, because the the watts are obtained by multiplying the product of the virtual volts and amperes by the cosine of the angle of lag (or lead). Any alternating current may be resolved into two components in quadrature with each other, one in phase with the volts, the other in quadrature therewith, the former is termed by S. P. Thompson the Working Current, the latter the Wattle Current. The greater the angle of lag the greater will be the wattle current.