PHYS 121 - PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

Understanding Power
in Physics
ENGR. JTB 2025 March 31
FINAL TERM
Learning Objectives

Define power and explain its significance in physics.

Differentiate between average power and instantaneous power.

Apply power formulas to real-world problems.

Understand the relationship between power, work, and energy.

Explain the concept of efficiency in power systems.

Solve practical problems involving power calculations.

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What is Power?

Power
It is the time rate at which work is done or energy is transferred.

Formulas: Where:
P - watts (W)
W - Joules (J)
t - seconds (s)
F - Newtons (N)
v - meters per second (m/s)
Unit:
Joules per second or Watt (W); horsepower (hp); British Thermal Units (BTU)

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Derivation of the Power Formula

Take the limit as Δt

“time rate of doing

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Unit Conversions

FROM TO

1 hp 746 watts

1 hp 550 ft-lb per second

1 ft-lb per second 1.356 watts

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Everyday Examples

A person climbing stairs quickly vs. slowly.

A light bulb consuming electrical energy.

A car engine generating power to move.

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Efficiency in Power Systems
Efficiency
It measures how much useful power output is obtained compared to the total power input.

Formula

Where
The useful power output.

The total power input.

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Problem-Solving Framework
To effectively solve energy conservation problems, follow these steps.

1. Identify Given Data: Work, force, time, velocity.

2. Determine the Correct Formula: P = W/t (for time-based problems) or P = Fv (for motion-

based problems

3. Substitute Known Values and Solve.

4. Check your answer: Check the units and plausibility of your calculated values.

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Example (Lifting a Box)
A 50 kg box is lifted 3 meters in 5 seconds. Find the power required in horsepower and foot-
pound per second.

Solution: Watts
h=3m
t=5s
m = 50 kg

Work done: Joules

Power: Watts

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Example (Car Engine Power)
A car engine exerts a 500 N force while maintaining a velocity of 20 m/s. Find the power
output in horsepower.

Solution:
F = 500 N
Watts
v = 20 m/s

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Example (Efficiency of a Machine)
A pump is rated 2000 W of power input but only delivers 1500 W of useful output power. Find
its efficiency.

Solution:
Pin = 2000 W
Pout = 1500 W

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Additional Practice Problems
1) Each of the four jet engines on an Airbus A380 airliner develops a thrust (a forward force on the
airliner) of 322,000 N (72,000 lb). When the airplane is flying at 560 mph, what horsepower does
each engine develop?

2) A 50.0-kg marathon runner runs up the stairs to the top of Chicago’s 443-m-tall Willis Tower, the
second tallest building in the United States. To lift herself to the top in 15.0 minutes, what must be
her average power output? Express your answer in watts, in kilowatts, and in horsepower.

3) How many joules of energy does a 100-watt light bulb use per hour? How fast would a 70-kg
person have to run to have that amount of kinetic energy?

4. A 1200 kg race car accelerates uniformly from 20 m/s to 40 m/s over a distance of 500 m.
Assuming no energy losses, determine the average power exerted by the engine during this process.

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Additional Practice Problems
5) An elevator system, including passengers, has a total mass of 1500 kg. It moves upward at
a constant speed of 3 m/s. The motor supplying power to the elevator operates with an
efficiency of 80%. Determine: a) The power required to lift the elevator. b) The actual power
supplied by the motor.

6) A hydraulic lift raises a 2000 kg vehicle to a height of 2.5 m in 6 seconds. If the lift has an
efficiency of 85%, determine: a) The theoretical power needed to lift the vehicle. b) The actual
power supplied by the hydraulic system.

7) A 1200 kg car moves up a 500 m long hill inclined at 10° at a constant speed of 15 m/s. The
car engine operates with 30% efficiency. Determine: a) The power required to overcome
gravity. b) The actual power output of the engine.

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Additional Practice Problems
8) A roller coaster of mass 800 kg starts from rest at a height of 40 m. When it reaches a
height of 10 m, its velocity is 25 m/s. Determine the average power exerted by non-
conservative forces (such as friction) over this motion.

9) A cyclist exerts a force of 250 N while maintaining a steady velocity of 10 m/s against air
resistance and friction. Calculate the power output of the cyclist.

10) A 100 N force acts on a particle with a position defined by the relation s = 3t^2 - 5t + 10,
where s is the particle’s position in meters and t is the time in seconds. What is the power
exerted by the applied force when t = 3 seconds?

11) The work done on an object is defined by the relation W = 6t^3-5t, where W is in Joules
and t is in seconds. How much power is exerted at t = 5 seconds?

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PHYS 121 - PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

End of Discussion

ENGR. JTB 2025 March 31