Watt is one of the units of power. The international designation is watt - W, and in Russian - "W". Now this parameter of energy measurement is widely used in various mechanisms - from household appliances to complex technical structures.
History
The unit of measure watts was named after James Watt , the Scottish engineer who created the steam engine, a model of which he finalized the invention of Newcomen.
So, the unit of measurement of watts was adopted at the second congress of the scientific association in Great Britain in 1882. Prior to this, for most energy calculations, the “horsepower” parameter was used, one metric unit of which is approximately 735 watts.
Watt as a quantity in physics
To better understand what is measured in watts, you need to refresh school physics lessons and remember the definition of energy. The physical quantity that uses the unit joule (J) in the international SI system is called energy. It is used as a general measure of the effectiveness of various thermal processes or interactions between objects and other phenomena occurring with matter - in science, nature, in technology and so on.
This is what is measured in watts - power, which determines how many different objects consume or emit energy. The speed of its transmission through objects and the conversion of one form to another is also calculated. In other words, the power, determined in watts, is equal to 1 unit of energy divided by 1 unit of time - second:
Volts and watts
And what is the difference between volt and watt? In volts, voltage is calculated. Suppose the voltage of a power source - a battery, a battery or a network - should be equal to or slightly deviate (in%) from the voltage that is installed on the device - a lamp or sophisticated electronic equipment.
And what is measured in watts? The answer here is already clear - this is power, which can be calculated as the energy consumed, for example, when choosing a kettle - it will heat up faster, but it will spend more electricity. Or at an output power of, say, a speaker or amplifier, the larger the wider the range and the louder the sound. Watt is also indicated in internal combustion engines - cars, motorcycles, trimmers and other mechanisms. However, for such engines in other countries, the “horsepower” measurement is often used.
Power of electrical appliances
The power of household appliances is measured in watts, which is usually indicated by the manufacturer. Some devices, such as lamps, can set power limits so that when the cartridge is very hot, they will not fail. Which will limit the period of use. As a rule, such problems arise with incandescent lamps. In Europe, for example, the use of these lamps was limited due to high power.
LED lamps consume much less electricity, while the brightness of such a lamp is not inferior to incandescent lamps. For example, with an average brightness of 800 lumens, the energy consumption of an incandescent lamp, measured in watts, will be 60, and LED - from 10 to 15 watts, and this is 4-6 times less. The power of the fluorescent lamp is 13-15 watts. Thus, although the cost is higher, LED or fluorescent lighting is becoming more common, as it lasts longer and consumes energy more economically.