Electrical devices – powerful stuff!

LOs:
2. Compare devices that get electrical energy from
different sources.
3. Calculate the energy transferred in an electrical device.
4. Calculate the cost of electricity.

Attempt these questions in the back of your book. Can you

get them all without looking at yesterdays notes?

• List 9 types of energy.

• What is the number 1 rule when we talk about energy?
• What units do we use for energy?
 What is the best source of light?

All are sources of light. What one is best?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of
each?
 Light bulbs – Watt does it all
mean?
• We can buy light bulbs which vary in
brightness e.g. 100 watt, 60 watt, 40
watt.
• The number is how many joules of
electrical energy the bulb converts
every second.
• So, a 60 watt bulb converts 60 joules of
energy every second.
 Watt? Its on all my electrical stuff!
• All electrical devices are marked with the amount
of joules of electrical energy they convert every
second.

• We call this the power.

• Power = Energy converted per second.

• We measure power in watts.

• 1 Watt (W) = 1 Joule (J) / second (s).

 Try these calculations:
1. A torch converts 1000 joules of electrical energy
in 10 seconds. What is its bulbs power?
2. A dishwasher converts 100000 joules in 2
minutes. What is its power?
3. A microwave’s defrost setting converts 9000
joules of energy in 1 minute. What is its power?

Ext: Try to draw a formula triangle which has power,

time and energy as its corners.
Formula triangle:

Energy

Power x Time
 Try these calculations:
1. Power = 12W, Energy = 144J, Time = ?
2. Time = 30s, Energy = 1800J, Power = ?
3. Power = 60W, Time = 300s, Energy = ?

Ext: A 100W bulb is left on for 12 hours. How

much energy will be converted?
Ext: An energy efficient light bulb uses about
20W. Estimate the energy saved in one
year if we replace one 100W bulb with an
energy efficient bulb.
 Paying for electricity
• We have to pay for electrical energy.

• We could use the joule, but the numbers

on our electricity bills would be very big
because the joule is too small!

• Instead we use kilowatt-hours.

 The kilowatt-hour (kWh)
• The energy a 1 kilowatt device would
convert if it was turned on for 1 hour.
– A 1000W device converting energy for a
whole hour.

Q: How many joules are there in 1 kWh?

Working out the energy in kWh.
Energy = Power x Time
(Kilowatt-hours, kWh) (kilowatts, kW) (hours, h)

Example:
A 2000W kettle is used for 6 minutes. How many
kilowatt-hours does it convert?

1st, convert the units: Time = 6 mins = 6/60 h = 0.1 h

Energy = 2000W = 2000/1000 kW = 2 kW

Energy = Power x Time = 2 x (0.1) = 0.2 kWh

 How many kilowatt-hours are
used in these examples?
1. A 250W TV is used for 3 hours.
2. A 1800W iron is used for 30 minutes.
3. A 800W hover is used for an hour.
4. A 200W toaster is used for 2 minutes.

Ext: A TV on standby converts about 3W of

power. How many kWh will it convert if it
is in standby for a year?

(Now, the government says TVs can have a

maximum power on standby of 1W)
 Bills!!
• On an electricity bill, we pay a set rate for
each kWh we use, and a regular charge for
every month.

Total cost = (price per kWh x kWh used) + Standing charge

Attempt the problems on the worksheet.

Homework – due in next Tuesday.
Activity on the slip of paper