Electricity

Electric power - formula in LaTeX

Three equivalent forms of the same formula: use the one where you know both quantities. The last two follow from substituting Ohm's law. The chain of equalities fits on one line; in a longer derivation it is easier to break it up in an align environment.

P = U I = I^2 R = \dfrac{U^2}{R}

LaTeX code

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$$
P = U I = I^2 R = \dfrac{U^2}{R}
$$

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What the symbols mean

$P$: power (W)
$U$: voltage (V)
$I$: current (A)
$R$: resistance (Ω)

An electricity and magnetism formula - the basis of circuit problems and electrical lab reports.

Worked example

A 23 Ω kettle element plugged into a 230 V socket. The prefix goes inside the same \mathrm as the unit, \mathrm{kW}, so that k and W are not spaced apart.

P = \dfrac{U^2}{R} = \dfrac{(230\,\mathrm{V})^2}{23\,\Omega} = 2300\,\mathrm{W} = 2.3\,\mathrm{kW}

LaTeX commands in this formula

x^{2}: superscript (power); wrap several characters in braces
\dfrac: fraction (display)

How to use this formula in LaTeX?

Copy the code with the button above - $$…$$ is centered display math.
Paste it into the CamteX editor, Overleaf or any LaTeX document.
Inside a sentence, use single $…$ instead of double.
The formula needs the amsmath package - CamteX templates include it in the preamble.

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