Dictionary of Electrical Engineering

Commonly used terms in the Electrical industry.

loaded Q
dimensionless ratio of the average over any period of time (T = 1/frequency) of the ratio of the maximum energy stored (Umax) to the power absorbed or dissipated (Pabsorbed = Pin - Pout) in a passive component or circuit, including external loading effects, expressed as a dimensionless ratio. For most applications, the higher the Q, the better the part.