Electrical Power and Energy

The e.m.f (voltage) of a supply tell us about how

much energy is transfer to charges flowing around
the circuit. The greater the current flowing around
the circuit, the faster that energy is transferred.
Hence the rate at which the energy transferred in
the circuit ( the power P) depends on both e.m.f V
of the supply and the current I that it pushes round
the circuit. The following equation shows how to
calculate power.
Power (W) = current (A) x p.d. (V)
in symbol P = V x I

Education for the Real World

Since energy transferred = power x time, we can
modify the equation P = VI to give an equation for
energy transformed E:
energy transformed (J) = current (I) x p.d. (V) x
time (t)
In symbol E = VIt
Example
An electric fan runs from the 230V mains. The current
flowing through it is 0.4A.
(a) At what rate is electrical energy transformed by the fan?
P = VI = 230 x 0.4 = 92W
(b) How much energy is transformed in 1 minute?
E = VIt = P x t = 92 x 60 = 5520J

Education for the Real World

Cost of electricity
Joule is the very small unit of energy, the energy
consumed in household appliances is measured in
kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kilowatt-hour is the
amount of energy that is used by 1000W appliance in
one hour. If you look at the electricity meter at home,
you will find that it is marked in kilowatt-hour
(kWh). It is therefore called kilowatt-hour meter.
E = P(kW) x t(h) = kWh

Education for the Real World

Example 1: If electrical energy costs $0.90 per unit,
what is the cost of running an air-conditioner with an
average power of 2000W for 8 hours?
P = 2000/1000 = 2kW
E = Pt = 2kW x 8h = 16kWh
Cost = 0.90 x 16 = $14.4

Example 2: An electric heater is rated at 3 kW.

Electrical energy costs 20 cents per kW h.
What is the cost of using the heater for 30 minutes?

E = Pt = 3kW x 0.5h = 1.5kWh

Cost = 20 x 1.5 = 30 cents
Education for the Real World
EXERCISE
1 How much electrical energy in joules does a 100 watt lamp
transfer in
a 1 second,
b 5 seconds,
c 1 minute?
2 a What is the power of a lamp rated at 12 V 2 A?
b How many joules of electrical energy are transferred per
second by a 6 V 0.5 A lamp?

Education for the Real World

3 The largest number of 100 W lamps connected in parallel
which can safely be run from a 230 V supply with a 5 A fuse is…
A 2 B 5 C 11 D 12 E 0
4 What is the maximum power in kilowatts of the appliance(s)
that can be connected safely to a 13 A 230 V mains socket?
5 What is the cost of heating a tank of water with a 3000 W
immersion heater for 80 minutes if electricity costs 10p
per kWh?
6 A light bulb of 100W is used for 7hours. What is the energy cost if
the energy costs 90 ngwee per unit?
7 4-security lights of 120W are turned on for 30days. What is the
energy cost if it costs K60 per unit?

Education for the Real World