Many people think of the water analogy to try to explain how electromagnetic energy is delivered to a device in a circuit. Using that analogy, in a DC circuit, one could imagine the device is like a water wheel being pushed by the current.

In the case of an actual water wheel, the more water that flows per unit of time, the more energy gets delivered to the wheel per unit of time: power = current, but in electric circuits power = voltage x current.

Why is this?

Many people think of the water analogy to try to explain how electromagnetic energy is delivered to a device in a circuit. Using that analogy, in a DC circuit, one could imagine the power-consuming device is like a water wheel being pushed by the current.

In the case of an actual water wheel, the more water that flows per unit of time, the more energy gets delivered to the wheel per unit of time: power = current, but in electric circuits power = voltage x current.

Why is this?

Many people think of the water analogy to try to explain how electromagnetic energy is delivered to a device in a circuit. Using that analogy, in a DC circuit, one could imagine the device is like a water wheel being pushed by the current. But...

• in the case of a water wheel P = I.

• in electric circuits P = V x I.

Why is this?

Many people think of the water analogy to try to explain how electromagnetic energy is delivered to a device in a circuit. Using that analogy, in a DC circuit, one could imagine the device is like a water wheel being pushed by the current.

In the case of an actual water wheel, the more water that flows per unit of time, the more energy gets delivered to the wheel per unit of time: power = current, but in electric circuits power = voltage x current.

Why is this?