For a long time the term “work” had a very specific definition in physics. It was defined as the force on an object multiplied by the distance the object was moved. However this definition is no longer adequate for two reasons. First we now realize that there are different types of force and not all of them can be described by a simple multiplication by distance. Second we now realize that there are many different types of motion and not all of them can be described by a simple multiplication by distance.
As a result the definition of work has been generalized to include any type of force and any type of motion. The simplest way to define work is to say that it is the amount of energy required to move an object from one point to another.
However this definition is not completely accurate. In many cases the amount of energy required to move an object from one point to another is not the same as the amount of work done on the object. For example if you are lifting a heavy object you may have to input a lot of energy to get the object started but once it is moving it will require less energy to keep it moving. In this case the amount of work done is the amount of energy required to get the object moving not the amount of energy required to move it from one point to another.
A more accurate definition of work is the amount of energy required to change the state of an object. For example if you are lifting a heavy object you are not just moving it from one point to another you are also changing its state from being at rest to being in motion. The amount of work required to change the state of an object is called the change in potential energy.
The change in potential energy is equal to the work done only when the object is moved from one point to another without any change in its state. For example if you are lifting a heavy object the work done is equal to the change in potential energy only if you lift the object all the way to the top and then stop. If you stop part way the work done is less than the change in potential energy because you have not changed the state of the object.
One final note on the definition of work: Work is a vector quantity which means it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of work is the amount of energy required to change the state of an object. The direction of work is the direction in which the object is moved.
What is the unit of power?
The unit of power is the watt.
What is the rate at which work is done?
The rate at which work is done is the power.
What is the SI unit of power?
The SI unit of power is the watt.
What is the rate of doing work?
The rate of doing work is the power.
What is power?
Power is the rate of doing work or the rate of energy transfer.
How is power defined?
Power is defined as the rate of doing work or the rate of energy transfer.
What is the formula for power?
The formula for power is work/time.
What is an example of power?
An example of power is a light bulb.
What is power measured in?
Power is measured in watts.
What does power measure?
Power measures the rate of doing work or the rate of energy transfer.
How is power calculated?
Power is calculated by dividing work by time.
What is the SI unit for power?
The SI unit for power is the watt.
What is the relationship between power and work?
The relationship between power and work is that power is the rate of doing work.
What is the difference between power and energy?
The difference between power and energy is that power is the rate of doing work or the rate of energy transfer while energy is the ability to do work.
What is the unit of power in the SI system?
The unit of power in the SI system is the watt.
