Electrical Power

Electrical power $P$ is given by

$$P = IV$$

where $P$ is the electrical power (unit: watt, W),
$I$ is electric current (unit: ampere, A), and
$V$ is the potential difference (unit: volt, V)

The rate of energy converted from electrical energy to other forms as a 2.0 A current passes through a device experiencing a potential difference of 3.0 V is, therefore, 6.0 W or 6.0 J per second.

Substituting the relationship $V = IR$ or $I =\dfrac{V}{R}$ into the equation, we can obtain the alternative equations $$P = I^2R$$ and $$P = \dfrac{V^2}{R}$$ respectively. Any of these 3 equations can be used to calculate electrical power, and the choice on which to use depends or whether current or potential difference gets to be constant.

Checking for Understanding

Light bulb A has a resistance of 2 $\Omega$ and light bulb B has a resistance of 4 $\Omega$. Which of the light bulbs is brighter when they are arranged:

  1. in series?
  2. in parallel?