Electric Power

Electric Power The unit of electric power is the

watt (W), named after James Watt
(1736–1819).

One watt of power equals the

work done in one second by one
volt of potential difference in
moving one coulomb of charge.
Electric Power Remember that one coulomb per
second is an ampere. Therefore,
power in watts equals the
product of volts times amperes.
Electric Power When a 6-V battery produces 2 A
in a circuit, for example, the
battery is generating 12 W of
power.

The power formula can be used in

three ways:
Example 2-4

A toaster takes 10 A from the 120-

V power line. How much power is
used?
Example 2-5

How much current flows in the

filament of a 300-W bulb
connected to the 120-V power
line?
Example 2-6

How much current flows in the

filament of a 60-W bulb connected
to the 120-V power line?
Power Dissipation in
Resistance
Power When current flows in a resistance,
heat is produced because friction
Dissipation in between the moving free
electrons and the atoms obstructs
Resistance the path of electron flow.

The power is generated by the

source of applied voltage and
consumed in the resistance as
heat.
Power Since power is dissipated in the
resistance of a circuit, it is
Dissipation in convenient to express the power in
terms of the resistance R.
Resistance
The formula P=VxI can be
rearranged as follows:

Substituting IR for V,
Power This is a common form of the
power formula because of the
Dissipation in heat produced by current in a
resistance.
Resistance
For another form, substitute V/R
for I. Then
Example 2-7

Calculating the electric power in a

circuit as

● P=VxI
● P = I^2xR
● P = V^2/R.
Example 2-8

Calculate the power in a circuit where the source of 100 V produces 2 A in

a 50-ohms R.

This means that the source delivers 200 W of power to the resistance and
the resistance dissipates 200 W as heat.