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

3470 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A heater uses energy from a laptop computer to keep a mug of coffee hot. Energy is transferred to the coffee at the bottom of the mug. Explain how a convection current is set up in the coffee.


Why does a wire get hot when current flows through it?


What is the reaction force? (eg from the ground or table)


Is momentum a vector or a scalar quantity?


We're here to help

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

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences