

In the more general case where the electric field and angle can be changing, the expression must be generalized to a line integral: More detail on variable field This states that the current flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit. Power in Watts is calculated by multiplying voltage in Volts times current. If the distance moved, d, is not in the direction of the electric field, the work expression involves the scalar product: Watts reflect work being done at a given moment, NOT the energy consumed over time. In the case of constant electric field when the movement is directly against the field, this can be written The change in voltage is defined as the work done per unit charge against the electric field. Defined in these scientific terms, 1 volt is equal to 1 joule of electric potential energy per (divided by) 1 coulomb of charge. HyperPhysics***** Electricity and Magnetism

This association is the reminder of many often-used relationships: More general case The electric field is by definition the force per unit charge, so that multiplying the field times the plate separation gives the work per unit charge, which is by definition the change in voltage. The term wattage is used colloquially to mean 'electric power in watts.' The electric power in watts produced by an electric current I consisting of a charge of Q coulombs every t seconds passing through an electric potential. Work Done by Electric field Work and Voltage: Constant Electric Field The case of a constant electricfield, as between charged parallelplate conductors, is a good exampleof the relationship between workand voltage. Electric power, like mechanical power, is the rate of doing work, measured in watts, and represented by the letter P.
