Difference Between Work and Power Last Updated : 23 Apr, 2025 Summarize Comments Improve Suggest changes Share Like Article Like Report Work and Power are the two important terms in physics. To move a body, a certain amount of energy is required, this amount of energy is defined as work and the rate at which the energy is transferred is defined as Power. This two terms are quite similar however they have several differences. The differences between work and power are given below in this article. What is Work? Work is defined as the transfer of energy by applying force to move a body. Work is defined as the product of force and displacement of a body along the direction of force. Mathematically, work can be expressed asW = FS cosθwhere, W = work doneF = the applied forceS = the displacement of the bodyθ = the angle between force and displacement.The factors affect the work are as followsThe applied forceThe displacement of a bodyWhat is Power? Power is expressed as the amount of energy transferred in unit time. Mathematically, power can be expressed as P = W/T where, P = power W = work done T = timeThe factors affect the power are as followsThe work done TimeDifference Between Work and Power The differences between work and power are mentioned in the table below:ParticularsWork PowerDefinition Work is defined as the transfer of energy by applying force to move a body. Work is defined as the product of force and displacement of a body along the direction of force. Power is expressed as the amount of energy transferred in unit time. FormulaW = FS cosθ P = W/T SI unit SI unit of work is Joule (J). SI unit of power is Watt (W) or joule/second.Other units Other units are electron volt (eV), kWh, MWh, and GWh. Other units are horsepower (hp), kW, MW, and GW.Dimension [M L2 T-2][M L2 T-3]Factors affecting ForceDisplacementWork doneTimeDepends on timeWork is not dependent on time.Power is dependent on time. Conclusion Both work and power are important in our daily life because it's basic and essential. In our daily life, we need the power to perform a task and that task is work. Without power, we can not do work. Energy/power is necessary to do any work whether you get up from bed, do your daily routine which obviously is workforce and for that also you are required to have power. Also, CheckDifference Between Work and EnergyDifference Between Electric Potential and Potential DifferenceScalars and Vectors Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Difference Between Heat and Work A ansarisahin432 Follow Improve Article Tags : School Learning Physics Physics-Difference-Between Similar Reads Difference Between Heat and Work Heat and work are related forms of energy transfer. They play important roles in thermodynamics. Heat is energy transferred between systems due to temperature differences, while work is energy transferred through the application of force over a distance. In many thermodynamic processes, both heat an 5 min read Difference Between Force And Power Force and Power are two important terms in physics that are often confused in real life. Force is push or pull acting on a body that causes change in the state of motion of the body while power is the rate of applying force that causes displacement in the body.In this article, we will learn about th 4 min read Differences Between Horsepower and Torque Horsepower (hp) is a unit of estimation of force, or the rate at which work is done, for the most part regarding the result of motors or engines. There is a wide range of principles and kinds of drive. Two normal definitions utilized today are the mechanical pull (or majestic drive), which is around 4 min read Difference Between Exponent and Power In mathematics, the concepts of exponent and power are fundamental and widely used in various fields including algebra, calculus and real-world applications. Understanding the difference between these two terms is crucial for students as it lays the foundation for more advanced topics in mathematics 7 min read Difference between Energy and Power Energy is the ability to do work, while power is the rate at which work is done. While energy is measured in joules, power is measured in watts. Energy exists in various forms, such as kinetic, potential, and thermal. Power determines how quickly work is done, impacting everyday devices. In this art 4 min read Difference between Authority and Power Sometimes people use the terms Authority and Power interchangeably; however, there are some differences between both. While Authority is the legitimate power or right granted to an individual, position, or entity to exercise control, make decisions, and enforce compliance within a specific domain or 5 min read Like