Power Rating of Appliances

Physics: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 2.1.2

Power Rating of Appliances

Appliances in the EU have a label or panel that tells you what the power rating of the appliance is.

Power label

Power label

  • This power label can be used to calculate the current required by the appliance using the equation:
  • power = potential difference x current.
  • 230 V is the potential difference across the mains power supply in the UK.
Work done per second

Work done per second

  • We can work out how much energy an appliance transfers using the power rating and the equation:
  • energy transferred = power x time.
  • For example, a 100W lamp will use 100J of energy each second.

Test yourself on Power Rating of Appliances

  • What is the potential difference across the mains power supply in the UK?

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