When voltage is applied to a circuit and current flows through the load, what is consumed?

When voltage is applied to a circuit and current flows through the load, the quantity that is consumed in this process is power. Power, measured in watts, is defined as the rate at which electrical energy is converted to another form of energy, such as heat, light, or motion. This conversion happens when current flows through a load (like a light bulb or motor), utilizing the energy supplied by the voltage.

The relationship among voltage, current, and power is outlined by the formula P = V × I, where P represents power, V is the voltage, and I is the current. Thus, when a load draws current due to applied voltage, it consumes power as it facilitates the conversion of electrical energy into other useful forms of energy.

In this context, while heat can be a byproduct of power consumption (as seen in resistive loads where energy is dissipated as heat), and resistance plays a role in limiting current flow within the circuit, neither heat nor resistance directly represent what is consumed in terms of the electrical energy theory as power does. Voltage itself is the driving force behind the current but does not get "consumed" in the way that power does in the operation of the load.