VOLTAMPERE Meaning and
Definition
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A voltampere, generally expressed as VA, is a unit used to measure apparent power in an electrical circuit. It is derived from the product of voltage and current, and represents the total power consumed by a circuit, regardless of whether it is in the form of useful power (real power) or reactive power. In simpler terms, a voltampere quantifies the combined amount of electricity being supplied and received in a circuit.
The voltampere is commonly used in situations where both the voltage and current are alternating, such as in alternating current (AC) circuits. Unlike other power measurements, such as watts, which only account for real or active power, the voltampere considers the reactive power as well, which is the power that oscillates back and forth between the source and load due to reactive elements like inductors and capacitors. Thus, the voltampere provides a comprehensive representation of total power consumption in such circuits.
Moreover, it is worth noting that in an ideal situation where the current and voltage are in-phase, a voltampere is equivalent to a watt. However, in cases where the circuit contains reactive components causing a phase shift between the voltage and current, apparent power measured in voltamperes will be greater than real power measured in watts.
In summary, a voltampere is a unit used to describe the combined apparent power in electrical circuits. It accounts for both the real (useful) power and reactive power, providing a complete perspective on power consumption in alternating current systems.
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A watt, a unit of electrical effect, the product of one volt by one ampere.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for VOLTAMPERE
- volt ampere
- coltampere
- boltampere
- goltampere
- foltampere
- viltampere
- vkltampere
- vlltampere
- vpltampere
- v0ltampere
- v9ltampere
- voktampere
- voptampere
- vootampere
- volrampere
- volfampere
- volgampere
- volyampere
- vol6ampere
- vol5ampere
Etymology of VOLTAMPERE
The term "voltampere" is a combination of two units of measurement - "volt" and "ampere".
The word "volt" is derived from Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who invented the first chemical battery in the late 18th century. The invention of the battery revolutionized the field of electricity and led to the development of the concept of electric potential difference, which was measured in "volts" as a tribute to Volta's contribution.
The word "ampere" is named after André-Marie Ampère, a French physicist who made significant contributions to electromagnetism in the early 19th century. Ampère conducted experiments on the interaction between electric currents and magnetic fields, leading to the understanding of the fundamental relationship between electrical current and magnetic fields. As a recognition of his work, the unit of electric current was named after him.
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