EngiRef / Electrical Engineering Formula
Real Power (AC)
Real Power (AC): Actual power consumed in AC circuit. An AC Circuits formula in electrical engineering. Variables P, V, I and φ, each with SI and imperial…
AC Circuits
Specification
- Name
- Real Power (AC)
- Discipline
- electrical
- Category
- AC Circuits
- LaTeX
- P = VI\cos(\phi)
- Description
- Actual power consumed in AC circuit
- Conditions
- Single-phase sinusoidal steady-state; V and I are RMS
- Can solve for
- P, V, I
- Tags
- power, real, active, watt
Variables
| Symbol | Name | Unit | Si Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Real Power | W | W |
| V | RMS Voltage | V | V |
| I | RMS Current | A | A |
| φ | Phase Angle | ° | rad |
Common questions
- What is the Real Power (AC) formula?
- Actual power consumed in AC circuit. It sits under AC Circuits, Electrical engineering in the EngiRef reference.
- What do the symbols in the Real Power (AC) formula mean?
- In Real Power (AC), P is real power in W; V is rms voltage in V; I is rms current in A; φ is phase angle in °.
- When does the Real Power (AC) formula apply?
- Real Power (AC) holds under this condition: Single-phase sinusoidal steady-state; V and I are RMS.