⚡ Electric Power: A Simple Lesson
🔌 What is Electric Power?
Electric power is the rate at which electrical energy is used or produced.
It tells us how much energy is being transferred per second in an electric circuit.
💡 Everyday Meaning
A 100-watt light bulb uses 100 joules of energy every second.
More power = more energy used in less time.
🔢 Formula for Electric Power
P=V×IP = V \times IP=V×I
Where:
P = Power (in Watts, W)
V = Voltage (in Volts, V)
I = Current (in Amperes, A)
🧠 Example:
A device operates at 12 volts and draws 2 amps of current.
P=V×I=12×2=24 wattsP = V \times I = 12 \times 2 = 24 \, \text{watts}P=V×I=12×2=24watts
✅ So the device uses 24 watts of power.
🔋 More Formulas (using Ohm’s Law)
Since:
V=I×RV = I \times RV=I×R
We can also use:
P = I^2 \times R
]
P = \frac{V^2}{R}
]
These help when you know resistance (R) instead of voltage or current.
⚙️Units of Electric Power
Quantity Symbol Unit
Power P Watt (W)
Voltage V Volt (V)
Current I Ampere (A)
Resistance R Ohm (Ω)
Energy E Joule (J) or kilowatt-hour (kWh)
⚡ Power Rating of Devices
Devices are labeled with power ratings (like 60W, 1000W, etc.)
This tells you how much energy they use every second
High-power devices: Heaters, microwaves, kettles
Low-power devices: Phones, LED bulbs
🧾 Electric Energy Usage
To find energy used over time:
Energy=P×t\text{Energy} = P \times tEnergy=P×t
Where:
Energy in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh)
Time t is in hours
Example: A 1000W (1kW) heater running for 2 hours uses:
1 kW×2 h=2 kWh1 \, \text{kW} \times 2 \, \text{h} = 2 \, \text{kWh}1kW×2h=2kWh
🧠 Summary
Electric power = how fast electrical energy is used
Measured in watts
Formula: P=V×IP = V \times IP=V×I
More power = more energy used per second
🧩 Quick Quiz (Optional)
1. What is the formula for electric power?
2. A fan uses 0.5 A and runs on 220 V. How much power does it use?
3. What does a 60-watt bulb mean?
4. If a 1000W oven runs for 3 hours, how much energy does it use?
