Which term describes a brief decrease in voltage lasting less than a cycle?

Which term describes a brief decrease in voltage lasting less than a cycle?

• A. Swell
• B. Sag
• C. Outage
• D. Ramp

Answer: (B)

A voltage sag is a short-term drop in RMS voltage while the system stays energized, lasting under one cycle. It’s typically caused by large equipment starting up or momentary heavy loading, which pulls the voltage down briefly. The other terms describe different situations: a swell is a brief increase in voltage, an outage is a complete loss of voltage, and a ramp is a gradual change rather than a sudden dip. Since the event described is a brief decrease that doesn’t reach zero, sag fits best.

A voltage sag is a short-term drop in RMS voltage while the system stays energized, lasting under one cycle. It’s typically caused by large equipment starting up or momentary heavy loading, which pulls the voltage down briefly. The other terms describe different situations: a swell is a brief increase in voltage, an outage is a complete loss of voltage, and a ramp is a gradual change rather than a sudden dip. Since the event described is a brief decrease that doesn’t reach zero, sag fits best.