Power
- For electrical power and other forms of power, see Energy.
Power is a key concept in physics, describing how quickly work is done or energy is transferred. It's about measuring the speed at which energy is used to perform a task or the amount of energy consumed within a certain timeframe.
The standard measurement for power is the Watt (W), but there are other ways to measure it too, like horsepower (HP), calories per hour (cal/hr), and foot-pounds per minute (ft-lb/min). The basic formula to calculate power is P=W/t, where P stands for power, W for work, and t for time. Another way to look at it is P=E/t, where E represents energy. This gives us a way to quantify and understand the efficiency of processes and machines in our daily lives and in the scientific world.
Definition
In a physics term, power is the rate at which work takes place or energy is transmitted. It can also be defined as the amount of energy needed or used to complete an activity over a period of time.
Units
The SI unit for power is the the Watt or "W". Other non SI units include:
- horsepower "HP",
- calories per hour, "cal/hr", and
- foot pounds per minute "ft-lb/min".
Equation
The equation for power is where P is power, W is work and t is time. A second equation for power is where E is energy and t is time.