Which of the following is classified as a reactive load?

A reactive load is defined as one that stores energy in an electric or magnetic field and typically exhibits a phase difference between voltage and current. Among the provided options, an inductor is the example of a reactive load. This is because inductors store energy in a magnetic field when electrical current flows through them.

When an alternating current (AC) passes through an inductor, the current lags behind the voltage, creating a situation where power is alternately absorbed and released rather than consumed. This characteristic of inductive loads is what makes them reactive.

In contrast, a resistor is a purely resistive load, which consumes electrical energy without storing it, resulting in voltage and current being in phase. A transformer, while it does involve magnetic fields, functions primarily as a device to transfer electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors, and is not classified as a load per se. A battery serves as a source of direct electrical energy and stores chemical energy, not reacting to AC in a manner characteristic of reactive loads.