Synchronous motors can be employed for which of the following purposes?

Synchronous motors are particularly well-known for their ability to improve power factor in electrical systems. By operating at a leading power factor, they can counteract the lagging power factor typically incurred by inductive loads such as motors and transformers. This leading power factor helps in reducing the overall reactive power demand on the electrical system, thus enhancing the efficiency of power distribution.

In power factor correction applications, synchronous motors can be connected to the electrical network and adjusted to operate at different excitation levels. By increasing the excitation, the motor can generate reactive power, which can be used to compensate for the reactive power consumed by other inductive loads. This capability makes synchronous motors valuable assets in industrial and commercial power systems where managing power factor is crucial for efficiency and cost control.