Which circuit element exhibits a negative phase-angle difference?

The element that exhibits a negative phase-angle difference is an inductor. In an AC circuit, the voltage across an inductor lags the current through it by 90 degrees. This lag represents a negative phase angle, indicating that as the current reaches its peak value, the voltage is still rising towards its peak.

This behavior is crucial in AC circuit analysis and understanding reactive components. Inductive reactance can be expressed mathematically as a phase difference in sinusoidal waveforms, and this phase lag has significant implications for power factor and reactive power in electrical systems.

In contrast, capacitors exhibit a positive phase angle, as the current leads voltage by 90 degrees. Resistors have no phase difference between voltage and current, as they dissipate energy without storing it. Diodes, being non-linear devices, do not have a defined phase relationship like pure reactive components. Therefore, it is the inductor that is correctly identified as exhibiting a negative phase-angle difference.