What term describes the timing relationships involved in alternating current signals?

The term that describes the timing relationships involved in alternating current signals is phase. In the context of alternating current (AC), phase refers to the position of a point in time on a waveform cycle, helping to determine how the wave fluctuates over time. When two AC signals are compared, their phases indicate their relative timing. For instance, if one waveform reaches its peak before another, they can be described as being out of phase with one another. This concept is crucial in understanding how signals interact with each other, particularly in systems where multiple signals are used simultaneously, as well as in applications such as signal modulation and communication technologies.

Magnitude pertains to the strength or size of the signal, impedance refers to the total opposition that a circuit presents to current flow, which includes both resistance and reactance, and reactance specifically addresses the opposition to AC due to inductance and capacitance. While all of these terms are important in the analysis of AC signals, phase uniquely addresses the timing relationships, making it the correct choice for this question.