electricity supply

Electric power is defined as the amount of work done by an electric current in a unit time.

Explanation

When a current flows in a circuit with resistance, it does work. Devices can be made that convert this work into heat (electric heaters), light (light bulbs and neon lamps), or motion (electric motors). In our modern society, electrical power or electricity is a term not just for physical work but also for a public utility of modern infrastructure.

When a loss of electrical power occurs over a large region of a country, whether by the actions of people or nature, it is a disaster. Summary of the Kyoto Report. Geomagnetic storms (solar storms) have previously caused power outages of this scale, and similar events can be anticipated in the future. More recent power outages have been primarily caused by human action and inaction [1]. A few locations for power production and transmission facilities and hardware are classified in the United States, to prevent tampering or sabotage, because of the necessity of electrical power.

Mathematics of electric power

In circuits

Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations, and is measured in units called watts (symbol W), named after Scottish engineer James Watt. The term wattage is used colloquially to mean 'electric power in watts'.