The World Book Bonus Science Reference

Kilowatt

Kilowatt, pronounced KIHL uh waht, is a unit of power in the metric system of measurement. All countries use the kilowatt to measure electric power--even the United States, which does not customarily use the metric system. The symbol for kilowatt is kW.

One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts, or 1.341 horsepower. One watt is the power defined by a current of 1 ampere flowing under an electrical pressure of 1 volt. One kilowatt-hour is the work done by 1 kilowatt in 1 hour.

Contributor: Bruce F. Field, Ph.D., Senior Electronics Engineer, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

See also Ampere; Volt; Watt.

 

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