Explain the difference between energy and power.

Power is the rate at which energy is transferred. For example, a typical kettle may use 1.2 kiloWatts (kW) for about 2 minutes to boil water. This means that the kettle uses 1200 Joules of energy per second (Js-1) for 120 seconds. We can work out the total energy this takes using the equation:Power = Energy / TimeRearranging for energy gives us:Energy = Power × TimeSo:Energy = 1200Js-1 × 120s= 144,000JSo, in this example, a kettle requires 1200 Watts of power for 2 minutes to boil the water, or 144,000 Joules of energy in total.

HJ
Answered by Henry J. Physics tutor

3550 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

If a car drives at 5 ms^-1 for 10 seconds and then 6 ms^-1 for 5 seconds, how far has it travelled in total?


What does "superimposition" mean?


On a pirate ship, a 1.6m plank is held at one end to the ship. A 65kg pirate walks the plank with his 1.1kg parrot following 40cm behind him. What is the total clockwise moment acting on the plank when the pirate reaches the end of it?


what are the energy changes when a car rolls from the top of a hill to the bottom? Name two forces that would slow the acceleration of the car?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning