Electrical Power (Edexcel International A Level Physics)

Electrical Power

• Work is also defined as a transfer of energy

• When components transfer electrical energy to other stores, work must be done because energy is transferred

• Therefore, potential difference is the work done per unit charge

• Current is the rate of flow of charge

• These equations can be combined to give the work done by a component in an electric circuit

• Power P is defined as:

  The rate of doing work

• In equation form this is

• This gives us

• Therefore, the power dissipated (produced) by an electrical device is given by:

• Using V = IR to rearrange for either V or I and substituting into the power equation means we also write power in terms of resistance R

Power equation in terms of resistance

• The squared value for both current and voltage in these equations means that, for any given resistance, if the current or voltage doubles, the power will be four times as great

• Conversely, for a given power, if the resistance doubles then current will be 4 times less but voltage will be 4 times greater