Final answer:
The power dissipated in resistor R1 can be calculated using the formula P = I²R or P = V²/R, depending on the known quantities. This calculation is an application of Joule's law and represents the energy converted from electrical energy to heat in the resistor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'What is the power dissipated in R1?' relates to the concept of electric power in a circuit, which falls under the category of Physics and is typically covered in High School education. The power dissipated by a resistor in an electric circuit is given by the equation P = I²R or P = V²/R, where P is the power in watts (W), I is the current in amperes (A), V is the voltage in volts (V), and R is the resistance in ohms (Ω).
If we know the current flowing through resistor R1 and its resistance, we can calculate the power using the P = I²R formula. If we are given the voltage across R1 and its resistance, we'll use the P = V²/R formula instead. The energy dissipated by the resistor in the form of heat is proportional to this power, so as power increases, more energy is converted from electrical energy to heat within the resistor over a given time frame.
In a scenario where two resistors are connected in a series or parallel configuration, we can also use the total power consumed to infer the power dissipated by each resistor, based on their resistances and the principles of the circuit. Joule's law provides a comprehensive method to calculate the power dissipation, reinforcing the conservation of energy in electrical circuits.