Electric Power
Electric power is a vital aspect of current electricity, defined as the rate at which electrical energy is consumed or converted into other forms of energy. The formulas governing electric power include:
- P = VI: This formula connects power (P, in watts), voltage (V, in volts), and current (I, in amperes).
- P = I²R: This shows the relationship of power with current and resistance, indicating how increasing current affects energy consumption.
- P = V²/R: This formula describes how power relates to voltage and resistance.
The SI unit of electric power is the watt (W), where 1 kilowatt (kW) equals 1000 W. Furthermore, we analyze electrical energy, emphasizing the equation E = Pt, which depicts that the energy consumed by an appliance is a product of its power consumption and operational time. The standard unit of energy in this context is joules (J), while the commercial unit used in billing is the kilowatt-hour (kWh), equal to 3.6 × 10⁶ J. This section highlights the significance of electric power in everyday electrical applications and devices, elucidating how understanding electric power and energy consumption is crucial for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.