How do you calculate power in a DC circuit?
1 Answer
In a DC (direct current) circuit, power is the rate at which electrical energy is converted from one form to another, usually from electrical energy to other types of energy like heat, light, or mechanical work. To calculate power in a DC circuit, you can use one of the following formulas:
Power (P) = Voltage (V) × Current (I)
Where:
Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Voltage (V) is measured in volts (V).
Current (I) is measured in amperes (A).
This formula is valid for resistive loads like resistors, where the voltage and current are in phase. In such cases, the power dissipated as heat is given by the product of voltage and current.
Power (P) = Current (I)² × Resistance (R)
Where:
Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Current (I) is measured in amperes (A).
Resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω).
This formula is applicable when you know the current and resistance of a load, but not the voltage across it.
Power (P) = Voltage (V)² / Resistance (R)
Where:
Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Voltage (V) is measured in volts (V).
Resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω).
This formula is also used when you know the voltage and resistance of a load, but not the current passing through it.
Keep in mind that power is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction. When dealing with multiple components in a circuit, you can sum up the individual power values to find the total power consumption or generation in the circuit.
Power (P) = Voltage (V) × Current (I)
Where:
Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Voltage (V) is measured in volts (V).
Current (I) is measured in amperes (A).
This formula is valid for resistive loads like resistors, where the voltage and current are in phase. In such cases, the power dissipated as heat is given by the product of voltage and current.
Power (P) = Current (I)² × Resistance (R)
Where:
Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Current (I) is measured in amperes (A).
Resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω).
This formula is applicable when you know the current and resistance of a load, but not the voltage across it.
Power (P) = Voltage (V)² / Resistance (R)
Where:
Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Voltage (V) is measured in volts (V).
Resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω).
This formula is also used when you know the voltage and resistance of a load, but not the current passing through it.
Keep in mind that power is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction. When dealing with multiple components in a circuit, you can sum up the individual power values to find the total power consumption or generation in the circuit.