Watt (unit)

Physical unit
Unit name	watt
Unit symbol	${\displaystyle \mathrm {W} }$
Physical quantity (s)	power
Formula symbol	${\displaystyle P}$in mechanics and electrical engineering in thermal engineering ${\displaystyle {\dot {Q}}}$
dimension	${\displaystyle {\mathsf {M\;L^{2}\;T^{-3}}}}$
system	International system of units
In SI units	${\displaystyle \mathrm {1\,W=1\;{\frac {J}{s}}=1\;VA=1\;{\frac {kg\,m^{2}}{s^{3}}}} }$
In CGS units	${\displaystyle \mathrm {1\,W=10^{7}\;{\frac {erg}{s}}=10^{7}\;{\frac {g\,cm^{2}}{s^{3}}}} }$
Named after	James Watt
Derived from	Joule , second
See also: voltampere , var

Electrical power meter

The watt is the unit of measurement used in the international system of units (SI) for power ( energy consumption per time period ). It was named after the Scottish scientist and engineer James Watt . The capital letter "W" is used as the unit symbol .

The watt is a derived unit . It can be derived from the basic units kilogram (kg) , meter (m) and second (s) :

${\displaystyle \mathrm {1\,W=1\,{\frac {kg\,m^{2}}{s^{3}}}} \,}$

As with any SI unit, decimal multiples can be specified using the SI prefixes ("Milli", "Kilo", "Mega" etc.).

Illustrations

One watt is equal to the power to

• to perform mechanical work of one joule per second ( ), for example to apply the force of one newton over a distance of one meter within one second , ${\displaystyle \mathrm {1\,W=1\,{\tfrac {J}{s}}} }$
• to heat one gram of water per minute by approx. 14.3  K (i.e. from 15 ° C to approx. 29.3 ° C within one minute), or
• to maintain an electrical voltage of one volt via a purely ohmic resistance of one ohm (whereby a current of one ampere flows; ). ${\displaystyle \mathrm {1\,W=1\,\mathrm {V\cdot A} } }$

It should be noted that the different types of power as well as forms of energy cannot always be directly converted into one another.

See also : Typical orders of magnitude of services

history

The unit is named after James Watt, who is known for improving the efficiency of steam engines . It was proposed by the British Science Association in 1882 and recognized as a unit of achievement at its second congress in 1889. Compared to the previously common unit "ampere.volt", the new unit had a clearer relationship to mechanics, so that it was also accepted as a replacement for the unit PS (horse power) in electric motors . In 1946 the unit was redefined by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). This resolution was confirmed by the ninth general conference on Weights and Measures in 1948 , and in 1960 the tidal flats were incorporated into the newly created International System of Units.

Electrical engineering

In electrical engineering, the watt is used exclusively to indicate the active power ; the following units are also used - especially in energy supply technology:

• Volt-ampere , unit of apparent electrical power
• Var , unit of electrical reactive power

In the field of high-frequency and microwave technology , the signal and energy transmission shifts from the line structures to the electromagnetic fields that develop on the line structures , even with line-based transmission, with increasing frequency . Instead of current and voltage , calculations are made on the so-called “voltage level” with so-called “wave quantities” , which have the unit (“root watt”). ${\displaystyle {\sqrt {W}}}$

Web links

Wiktionary: Watt  - explanations of meanings, origins of words, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Gérard Borvon: History of the electrical units. S-eau-S, September 10, 2012, accessed April 4, 2014 . 
2. ^ Robert A. Nelson: The International System of Units. Applied Technology Institute, accessed April 4, 2014 . 
3. ^ CIPM, 1946: Resolution 2. Retrieved October 14, 2019 . 
4. ↑ Zinke, Brunswig; High frequency engineering 1; 6th edition; Springer Verlag; 2000