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

3581 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe what red shift is and why i provides evidence for the Big Bang Theory.


What is the importance of the resultant force in a free-fall question?


Please explain air resistance.


A bomb of mass 34kg, at rest is detonated. The explosion splits the bomb into two pieces, one of mass 13kg, which is thrown to the left at a velocity of 28 m/s. What is the velocity of the second piece?


We're here to help

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

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning