Electric power refers to the rate at which electrical energy is consumed or produced in an electrical circuit. It is measured in watts (W) and represents the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit of time. In simple terms, it indicates how fast electrical energy is used or delivered.
The formula for electric power is:
Electric Power (P) = Voltage (V) ร Current (I)
Where:
Electric Power (P) is measured in watts (W).
Voltage (V) is the potential difference or electrical pressure measured in volts (V).
Current (I) is the flow of electric charge measured in amperes (A).
Mathematically, the product of voltage and current gives the power consumed or produced in an electrical circuit. This formula is known as Joule's law, named after James Prescott Joule, a British physicist who made significant contributions to the study of energy and heat in the mid-19th century.