How is electrical power related to current and voltage?

Electrical power is directly proportional to the product of current and voltage in a circuit.

In more detail, the relationship between electrical power (P), current (I) and voltage (V) is defined by the formula P=IV. This is known as Joule's first law, named after the British physicist James Prescott Joule. It states that the power of an electrical circuit is the product of its voltage and current.

If you increase the current while keeping the voltage constant, the power will increase. Similarly, if you increase the voltage while keeping the current constant, the power will also increase. This is because power is directly proportional to both current and voltage.

For example, if you have a circuit with a current of 2 amperes and a voltage of 3 volts, the power would be 6 watts (2A * 3V = 6W). If you were to double the current to 4 amperes, the power would double to 12 watts (4A * 3V = 12W). Similarly, if you were to double the voltage to 6 volts, the power would again double to 12 watts (2A * 6V = 12W).

This relationship is fundamental in understanding how electrical devices work. For instance, a light bulb with a higher wattage will be brighter because it uses more electrical power. This could be because it draws more current, has a higher voltage, or both.

In summary, the relationship between power, current and voltage is a key concept in electricity. It helps us understand how electrical devices function and how we can control their power output.