Watt-hour (Wh)
Watt-hour (Wh) is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of energy consumed or produced by an electrical device over a certain period of time. It represents the total amount of energy used (or stored) when a device operates at a constant power of one watt for one hour.
Mathematically, one watt-hour is equivalent to one watt of power expended over the course of one hour:
1 Watt-hour (Wh) = 1 Watt x 1 hour
Watt-hour is commonly used to measure the energy capacity of batteries, the energy consumption of appliances, and the output of power generation systems. It provides a convenient way to express the amount of energy transferred or stored in electrical systems, allowing users to estimate usage, calculate costs, and compare the efficiency of different devices or systems.
For example, if a light bulb consumes 10 watts of power and operates continuously for 5 hours, the total energy consumed would be:
Energy consumed = Power x Time
= 10 watts x 5 hours
= 50 watt-hours (Wh)
Similarly, the energy capacity of a battery can be expressed in watt-hours, indicating the total amount of energy it can deliver before needing to be recharged or replaced. Understanding watt-hours is essential for effectively managing energy usage, optimizing system performance, and evaluating the suitability of different power sources for specific applications.
