Electric Power and Energy
Electric power (P) refers to the rate at which electric energy is consumed in an electrical circuit. It is measured in watts (W) and has several formulas to calculate it, including:
- P = VI: where V is the potential difference and I is the current.
- P = I²R: showing the relationship between power, current, and resistance.
- P = V²/R: illustrating how power relates to voltage and resistance.
The SI unit of power is the watt (W), with 1 kilowatt (kW) equaling 1000 W.
Electrical energy (E) is described as the amount of energy consumed by an appliance, calculated as:
- E = Pt: where P is power and t is time.
It is measured in joules (J), but for practical uses, it’s often expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), where 1 kWh equals 3.6 × 10⁶ J. Understanding electric power and energy is essential in comprehending how electrical devices operate and how energy is billed in households.