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power
The rate at which energy is supplied or transferred, or, equivalently, the rate at which work is done, dW/dt. If the force that is doing the work is constant, then the power, P = F ds/dt , i.e. P = Fv.
The SI unit of power is the watt (W); it is equivalent to the J s-1 or kg m2 s-3. Power has dimensions [M]1 [L]2 [T]-3.
While mechanical power may be derived as a product of a force and a velocity (linear or angular), the electrical power utilized in a circuit is a product of the potential drop and the current flowing in it (volts × amperes = watts). Where the electrical supply is alternating, the root-mean-square (rms) value of the voltage must be used.
Related category
• CLASSICAL MECHANICS
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