Mechanical Work, Power, and Energy Principles
Classified in Physics
Written on in
English with a size of 2.81 KB
Mechanical Work
Mechanical work of a constant force is the product of the force by the displacement of its point of application. The formula is: $W = F \cdot \Delta r = F \cdot \Delta r \cdot \cos\theta$.
One Joule (1 J) is the work done by a force of 1 Newton (N) when its point of application moves 1 meter (m) in the same direction as the force. Thus, $1\text{ J} = 1\text{ N} \cdot 1\text{ m}$.
Power
If two forces do the same job, the one that completes it in less time is considered more effective. To account for the efficiency or speed with which a force does work, we introduce the concept of power. We distinguish between:
- Instant Power: The rate of doing elementary work at a certain time. $P = dW / dt = F \cdot dr / dt = Fv$.
- Average Power: For