A beginner explanation of phase angles. Phase angles aren't tough once you know the ground rules. Phase angles only occur with AC, not DC. Phase angle is a measure between voltage and current conduction time. To help you visualize this, imagine first a pure capacitor with infinite AC resistance. If a voltage is applied to a capacitor, the voltage begins to build across its terminal but there is no current flow for the first 90 degrees of a sine wave. Voltage leads the current by 90 degrees. Once past 90 degrees, the volatge lessens and the cap begins to discharge, hence the current. With pure inductors with no winding resistance , its just the reverse. For the first 90 degrees, the current rushes through the coil but there is no voltage build up across its terminals because of the zereo resistance but a magnetic field is created. The voltage lags the current by 90 degrees. Once past 90 degrees, the current begins to drop causing the field to collapse causing a voltage to appear. All capacitors and inductors have some rsistance and this resistance causes the phase angles to vary from 90 degrees. I hope this helps.