Which of the following terms refers to the rate at which electrical energy is consumed in a circuit?

The term that refers to the rate at which electrical energy is consumed in a circuit is power. Power is defined as the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit time. In the context of electrical systems, it is calculated as the product of voltage and current, following the formula: Power (P) = Voltage (V) × Current (I). This relationship indicates how much electrical work is being done within the circuit, such as lighting a bulb or running a device.

Voltage is related to the potential difference that drives the current through the circuit but does not specify how quickly energy is being used. Current measures the flow of electric charge in the circuit, indicating how many electrons are flowing, but it also doesn’t inform us about the energy consumption in terms of rate. Resistance refers to the opposition to the flow of current, influencing how much current can flow at a given voltage, but does not directly address energy consumption. Thus, power is the most accurate term to describe the rate of energy consumption in an electrical circuit.