How is Active Power defined in terms of measurement?

Active power is defined as the actual power that is consumed and utilized in a circuit for performing work or generating heat. It is the component of electrical power that results in energy transfer and is measured in Watts (W). Active power represents the flow of energy that can perform useful work, such as powering devices and lights in residential and commercial applications.

Understanding active power is crucial because it directly correlates to the real power consumed by electrical loads. The other units mentioned serve different purposes: volt-ampere represents apparent power, watthour measures energy consumption over time, and kilowatt is simply a larger unit of power measurement, but still refers to the same concept of active power in a different magnitude. Therefore, active power being measured in Watts signifies its role in performing actual work within electrical systems.