What type of electrical waveforms does the phase angle typically describe?

The phase angle is a fundamental concept in understanding alternating current (AC) waveforms, especially in the context of sinusoidal functions. In AC circuits, waveforms are often represented by sine waves, which have a smooth periodic oscillation. The phase angle specifically refers to the position of the waveform relative to a reference point, typically measured in degrees or radians.

For sine waves, the phase angle plays a critical role in determining how the waveform interacts with other waveforms in the circuit, such as when analyzing impedance or the relationship between voltage and current. The phase angle indicates how much one waveform leads or lags another, a crucial factor in AC circuit analysis, power calculations, and signal processing.

The other waveforms listed do not use phase angles in the same way as sine waves do when discussing AC signals. Square waves, triangular waves, and pulsed waves differ in their characteristics and do not present the same periodic phase relationships that sine waves do. While you can mathematically describe a phase shift for these types of waves, the concept is predominantly applied to sinusoidal waveforms in the analysis of AC systems. Thus, the use of phase angle is mainly associated with sine waves, making it the correct response to the question.