The term "kilowatt hour" refers to the amount of electricity consumed over an hour, equal to one thousand watts. The word "kilowatt" is spelled with "k-i-l-o-w-a-t-t", pronounced as /ˈkɪləwɒt/. Meanwhile, "hour" is spelled with "h-o-u-r" but pronounced as /ˈaʊə(r)/. The word "kilowatt hour" is therefore spelled with "k-i-l-o-w-a-t-t" and "h-o-u-r". It is important to spell this term correctly as it is commonly used in billing electricity consumption for households and businesses.
A kilowatt-hour, abbreviated as kWh, is a unit used to measure electrical energy consumption or production over a specific period. It is a compound measurement that combines power, measured in kilowatts (kW), with time, measured in hours. The kilowatt-hour is commonly used to measure the amount of electricity consumed or generated by various electrical devices, households, buildings, or power plants.
Specifically, a kilowatt-hour refers to the amount of energy consumed or produced when a device with a power rating of one kilowatt operates for one hour. For instance, if a 1-kilowatt device were to operate for ten hours, it would consume ten kilowatt-hours of energy. This can be calculated by multiplying the power rating (in kilowatts) by the duration of operation (in hours).
The kilowatt-hour is widely used in utility billing, as electricity providers charge customers for the amount of energy consumed. It helps quantify the energy usage patterns, enabling customers to understand and manage their consumption.
It is important to note that the kilowatt-hour is a measure of energy, not power. Power refers to the rate at which energy is being consumed or produced, while energy represents the total amount consumed or produced over time. The kilowatt-hour provides a practical way to express both concepts in a single unit within the context of electrical energy.
The term "kilowatt hour" is compound composed of three words: "kilo", "watt", and "hour".
1. "Kilo" comes from the Greek word "khilioi", which means "thousand". It is used in the International System of Units (SI) to denote a multiplier of 1000.
2. "Watt" is named after the Scottish engineer James Watt, who made significant contributions to the development and improvement of the steam engine in the 18th century. The watt is the SI unit of power, equal to one joule per second.
3. "Hour" is a unit of time measurement, originating from the Old English word "hōr", which ultimately derives from the ancient Greek "hṓrā", meaning "time" or "season".