In coaxial cables, what is reflected power indicative of?

Reflected power in coaxial cables is indicative of signal loss during transmission. When a signal travels down a coaxial cable, it encounters impedance changes, which can cause some of the signal to be reflected back instead of being fully transmitted towards the antenna or the load. This reflection occurs due to mismatches between the cable and the connected devices, which leads to a portion of the power being sent back towards the source rather than being absorbed or used effectively.

Signal loss can reduce the efficiency of the overall system, as less power reaches the destination, and reflections can also interfere with the original signal, leading to degraded performance. Therefore, measuring reflected power helps determine how well the transmission line is performing and indicates any potential issues in the signal path.

In this scenario, the other options do not accurately represent what reflected power signifies within the context of coaxial cable performance. For instance, while transmission efficiency is related to how much power is ultimately received and used, reflected power specifically points to the loss occurring during the signal's journey through the cable.