Energy and Power Calculations

The basic unit of energy

 … is the joule (J). It is a very small unit, so
when we are talking about a lot of energy, we
use kilojoules (kJ).
 Remember your metric conversions…
 1000 J = 1 kJ (kilo = 1000)
Power
 Power (P) is the rate at which energy is used.
◦ When determining the amount of energy
(usually in J or kJ) you must also include a
time component.
 Power x Time = Energy (P x t = E)
◦ This can be rearranged to determine power
as well
 P = E/t (Power = Energy /time)
Efficiency
 The unit for power is the watt
◦ 1 W = 1 J/sec (1 watt = 1 joule per second)
 Therefore a 100 watt light bulb uses 100
J/sec of electrical energy.
Find energy of appliances
 Knowing the relationship between energy and
power allows us to find the energy used when
an appliance of known power (in watts)
operates for a known amount of time (in
seconds).
 Example: How much energy (in kJ) does a 75

watt light bulb use when it is turned on for

25 minutes?
 Equation: E = P x t
 Conversion: Power (in watts) 1 watt = 1 J/sec
Solution
How much energy (in kJ) does a 75 watt light
bulb use when it is turned on for 25 minutes?

E = 75 J 60 sec 25 min 110,000 J

sec min (or 110 kJ)
If the wattage is not given
 Some of the information about the current
can usually be found.
 To find the power (in watts) of any electrical

appliance, use the equation P = V x I

◦ P = power, V = voltage, I is current in amps (A).

 Philippine household voltage is 220 V

1 kwh = 3600 KJ
 The Kilowatt Hour (kwh) is not a unit of power
but a unit of energy (because it has a time
component).
◦ Notice that a kilowatt is a unit of power and hour is a
unit of time. Therefore, E = P x t.
 A kilowatt-hour is equal to 1 kw (or 1000
watts) delivered continuously for one hour
(3600 sec).
 1 kwh = 1000 J/sec x 3600 sec = 3,600,000 J
or 3600 kJ
 So 1 kwh = 3600kJ
Other units of energy include:
◦ 1 calorie (cal) = 4.184 J
◦ 1 BTU = 1.05 kJ
◦ 1 therm = 100,000 BTU
Problem 1
Dr. Clark’s power bill shows that his home used
1355 kwh over a 30 day period.
◦ 1 kwh = 3600 kJ

a) Find the energy used (in kJ) for the 30-day

period.
b) Find the energy used in J/day.
c) At the rate of Php 10.00/kwh, what is Dr. Clark’s
power bill (without tax)?
1a
(1355 kwh in 30 days)

a) Find the energy used (in kJ) for the 30 day

period.

1355 kwh 3600 kJ 4.88 x 106 kJ

1 kwh

Multiplication short-cut: 1355 x 36 (take off the two zeros)

= 48780, then put the two zeros back = 4878000. To put
into scientific notation, move the decimal six places to the
left.
1b
b) Find the energy used in J/day.
Start with previous calculation

4.88 x 106 kJ1000 J 1 month 1.63 x 108 J.day

Month 1 kJ 30 days

1) 4.88 x 106 x 1000 is equal to 4.88 x 109

2) 4.88 x 109
3 x 101 (this is the same as 30)
3) Calculate in parts: 4.88 / 3 = 1.63, subtract the
exponents to get 1.63 x 108
1c
c) At the rate of P10.00/kwh, what is Dr. Smith’s power
bill (without tax)?

1355 kwh Php 10.00 PhP13,550

1 kwh
Problem 2
A current through a toaster (110 V) is 8 A.
Remember, P = V x I
a) What is the power (in watts) of the toaster?
b) How much energy (in J) will the toaster use in 5
minutes of operation?
2a
A current through a toaster (110 V) is 8 A.
a) What is the power (in watts) of the toaster?
P=VxI
where V = voltage and I = amps

P = 110V x 8 A = 880 watts

2b
b) How much energy (in J) will the toaster use
in 5 minutes of operation?
P = E/t so E = P x t
(1 watt = 1 joule per second)

E = 880 W (1 J/sec) 60 sec 5 min 264,000 J

1 watt min

2.64 x 105 J
Problem 3
A 100 watt light bulb is 20% efficient. That
means 20% of the energy used is converted to
light, while 80% of the energy used is lost as
heat.
a) How much energy does it use in 12 hours of
operation?
b) How much energy does the bulb convert into
light over the 12-hour period?
c) How much energy does the bulb convert into
heat over the 12-hour period?
d) Convert the total energy use into kwh
3a
A 100 watt light bulb is 20% efficient.
a) How much energy does it use in 12 hours of
operation?
E=Pxt

E = 100 W (1 J/sec) 60 sec 60 min 12 hrs = 4,320,000 J

1 watt min 1 hr

4,320,000 J = 4,320 kJ
3b
b) How much energy does the bulb
convert into light over the 12-hour
period?

E = 4.32 x 106 J (.20 efficiency) =

864,000 J = 8.64 x 105 J
3c
3c) How much energy does the bulb convert
into heat over the 12-hour period?

E = 4.32 x 106 J (.80 heat) = 3,456,000 J =

3.46 x 106 J
3d
d) Convert the total energy use into kwh.

(the energy calculated in 3a was 4,320 kJ)

1 kwh = 3600 kJ

4320 kJ x 1 kwh = 1.2 kwh

3600 kJ
ASSIGNMENT
1. An electric clothes dryer has a power rating
of 4000W. Assume that a family does five loads

of laundry each week for 4 weeks.

Further assume that each load takes one hour.
Remember, 1 W = 1 J/sec.
a) Find the energy used in both J and kwh
b) If the cost of electricity is P12/kwh, find the cost
of operating the dryer for a month (4 weeks).
2. Dr. Clark’s natural gas bill states that his
household used 110 therms of energy over
a 30-day period.
a) Convert 110 therms to kwh.
b) His charge for the energy wasP 44300.00. Find
the cost of this natural gas in P/kwh.

◦ NOTE:
 1 calorie (cal) = 4.184 J
 1 BTU = 1.05 kJ
 1 therm = 100,000 BTU
 1 kwh = 3600 kJ
3. A household has the following electrical
device and the hours of operation per day.
Description QTY Rating Hours used
per day
LED Bulb 5 15 Watts 10 hrs
E-Fan 2 25 Watts 16 hrs
Induction 1 600 watts 3 hrs
cooker
Other device
a. compute for1 total energy
60 Watts 8 hrs
consumption
within one month.

b. if the rate is P 11.00/kWh what is the

monthly bill?