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Different insights can be gained from the three different expressions for electric power. For example, P = V 2 / R size 12{P = V rSup { size 8{2} } /R} {} implies that the lower the resistance connected to a given voltage source, the greater the power delivered. Furthermore, since voltage is squared in P = V 2 / R size 12{P = V rSup { size 8{2} } /R} {} , the effect of applying a higher voltage is perhaps greater than expected. Thus, when the voltage is doubled to a 25-W bulb, its power nearly quadruples to about 100 W, burning it out. If the bulb’s resistance remained constant, its power would be exactly 100 W, but at the higher temperature its resistance is higher, too.

Calculating power dissipation and current

Consider the example given in "Ohm’s Law: Resistance and Simple Circuits." Then find the power dissipated by the car headlight.

Strategy

For the headlight, we know voltage and current, so we can use P = IV size 12{P = ital "IV"} {} to find the power.

Solution

Entering the known values of current and voltage for the hot headlight, we obtain

P = IV = ( 2 . 50 A ) ( 12 . 0 V ) = 30 . 0 W. size 12{P = ital "IV" = \( 2 "." "50 A" \) \( "12" "." "0 V" \) =" 30" "." "0 W."} {}

Discussion

The 30 W dissipated by the hot headlight is typical.

The cost of electricity

The more electric appliances you use and the longer they are left on, the higher your electric bill. This familiar fact is based on the relationship between energy and power. You pay for the energy used. Since P = E / t size 12{P=E/t} {} , we see that

E = Pt size 12{E = ital "Pt"} {}

is the energy used by a device using power P size 12{P} {} for a time interval t size 12{t} {} . For example, the more lightbulbs burning, the greater P size 12{P} {} used; the longer they are on, the greater t size 12{t} {} is. The energy unit on electric bills is the kilowatt-hour ( kW h size 12{"kw" cdot h} {} ), consistent with the relationship E = Pt size 12{E = ital "Pt"} {} . It is easy to estimate the cost of operating electric appliances if you have some idea of their power consumption rate in watts or kilowatts, the time they are on in hours, and the cost per kilowatt-hour for your electric utility. Kilowatt-hours, like all other specialized energy units such as food calories, can be converted to joules. You can prove to yourself that 1 kW h = 3 . 6 × 10 6 J size 12{1"kW" cdot "h = 3" "." 6´"10" rSup { size 8{6} } " J"} {} .

The electrical energy ( E size 12{E} {} ) used can be reduced either by reducing the time of use or by reducing the power consumption of that appliance or fixture. This will not only reduce the cost, but it will also result in a reduced impact on the environment. Improvements to lighting are some of the fastest ways to reduce the electrical energy used in a home or business. About 20% of a home’s use of energy goes to lighting, while the number for commercial establishments is closer to 40%. Fluorescent lights are about four times more efficient than incandescent lights—this is true for both the long tubes and the compact fluorescent lights (CFL). (See [link] (b).) Thus, a 60-W incandescent bulb can be replaced by a 15-W CFL, which has the same brightness and color. CFLs have a bent tube inside a globe or a spiral-shaped tube, all connected to a standard screw-in base that fits standard incandescent light sockets. (Original problems with color, flicker, shape, and high initial investment for CFLs have been addressed in recent years.) The heat transfer from these CFLs is less, and they last up to 10 times longer. The significance of an investment in such bulbs is addressed in the next example. New white LED lights (which are clusters of small LED bulbs) are even more efficient (twice that of CFLs) and last 5 times longer than CFLs. However, their cost is still high.

Practice Key Terms 1

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Source:  OpenStax, Concepts of physics. OpenStax CNX. Aug 25, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11738/1.5
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