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Lesson 22 · How fast is the work done
Power is a rate
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Power is a rate

Work says how much; power says how fast. P=WtP = \dfrac{W}{t} (read aloud: P equals W over t) — the power PP in watts, the work WW in joules, the time tt it took in seconds — and its unit, the watt, is one joule per second. Same bill, different clock: a kettle and a campfire can hand the water the same joules, but the kettle does it before the conversation dries up.

Power's second face: push with force FF at steady speed vv and P=FvP = Fv (P equals F v) — newtons times metres-per-second cancels to joules-per-second, the units signing off. Choose the face by the GIVENS: work and time point to W/tW/t; force and speed point to FvFv. And mind the chapter's running gag — W the symbol is work in joules, W the unit is watts. The sentence tells you which one showed up.

P=WtP = \frac{W}{t}

  • PP= Power (power)
  • WW= Work or energy (energy)
  • tt= Time (time)
Power (P = W/t) solver →
FvP

P=FvP = F v

  • PP= Power (power)
  • FF= Force (force)
  • vv= Velocity (speed)
Power from Force and Velocity (P = Fv) solver →