If the voltage is doubled and the load magnitude remains the same, what is the effect on power losses?

When the voltage is doubled while keeping the load magnitude constant, the effects on power losses can be understood through the relationship between power, current, and resistance in electrical systems. Power losses in a conductor, often referred to as I²R losses, are directly related to the square of the current (I) flowing through the resistance (R) of the conductor.

When voltage (V) is increased, according to Ohm's Law (V = IR), for a constant load (which maintains a constant power), the current must decrease. Specifically, power (P) is calculated as P = VI. If the voltage is doubled and the power remains constant, the current must be halved.

Reducing the current results in a significant decrease in power losses. Since losses are proportional to the square of the current (I²R), when the current is reduced by half, the power losses become:

[ \text{Losses} = I^2 R ]

If current is halved (I/2), then the losses become:

[ \text{Losses} = \left(\frac{I}{2}\right)^2 R = \frac{I^2 R}{4} ]

This shows that the power losses decrease by