2.2.3

Electrical Work

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Electrical Work

In an electrical circuit, the energy source (battery or power supply) makes a current flow.

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Charge flow

  • Charge flows from the energy source and through the rest of the circuit and its components, like lamps and heaters.
  • The flow of current transfers energy from the energy source to the components.
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Energy transfer

  • The components then transfer energy to their surroundings.
  • For example, a lamp emits light into its surroundings.

Power

Power (P) is the rate of energy transfer to a component.

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Power

  • The power of a component is equal to the current through the component multiplied by the potential difference across the component.
  • P = I x V.
  • We know V = IR, so power can also be calculated by:
    • P = I2R
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Total energy transfer

  • The total energy transferred to a component is equal to the power multiplied by the time a current flows for.
  • E = P x t.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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