As an electric current moves through a complete circuit, the amount of electrical energy is transformed and utilized in various ways depending on the components within the circuit. Here are the key points about how electrical energy behaves in a circuit:
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Energy Transformation: When electric current flows through circuit components like resistors, capacitors, or inductors, electrical energy is transformed into other forms of energy. For instance, in resistors, electrical energy is converted into thermal energy (heat) due to the resistance to the flow of current.
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Voltage Drop: As the current flows through components such as resistors or loads, there is a voltage drop across those components. This means that while the total energy provided by the power source (like a battery) is conserved, the voltage (and thus energy per unit charge) decreases as the current passes through each component.
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Power Consumption: Each component in the circuit consumes power, which is the rate of energy transfer. The power (in watts) consumed by a device can be calculated using the formula \( P = VI \), where \( V \) is the voltage across the component and \( I \) is the current flowing through it.
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Energy Loss: In real circuits, some energy may be lost as heat due to the resistive elements in the circuit (Joule heating). This energy loss does not contribute to the useful work done by the circuit.
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Conservation of Energy: The total energy supplied by the power source equals the sum of the energy consumed by the circuit components and the energy lost (if any). This is in line with the principle of conservation of energy.
Overall, as electric current travels through a complete circuit, its electrical energy is effectively transformed into various forms and distributed among the circuit components, but the total energy must remain conserved.
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