What would indicate that the alternator cannot meet the electrical demands of the system?

To determine whether the alternator is meeting the electrical demands of the system, one must consider the indicators provided by the warning light and the charge gauge.

When the situation is characterized by a warning light being off while the discharge is showing, it indicates that the alternator is not generating enough electrical power to meet the needs of the aircraft's systems. The discharge shows that the battery is providing power instead of the alternator. In a properly functioning system, if the alternator were meeting the demands, one would expect either a charge or a stable state with no discharge indicated. Therefore, this scenario strongly points to the alternator's inability to keep up with the electrical load.

In contrast, other scenarios provided do not indicate an inability to meet the demands. A warning light on but showing charge suggests the alternator is engaged and generating some power, but the warning light indicates there might be an issue needing attention. A warning light off with charge showing implies the alternator is functioning correctly. Lastly, a warning light on with discharge also suggests the alternator is not functioning optimally, but importantly, it indicates there's a system alert present.

Hence, the situation that signifies the alternator cannot meet the demands is indeed characterized by a warning light being off and displaying