Power Tate Modern in the formerBankside Power Station Architect: Herzog & de Meuron
What do you think of when you hear the word “power”?
What does “power” mean in science? Power: the amount of work done per unit of time P = w/t or P = Fd/t P = F v
Unit of power? P = w / t w is in Joules and t is in seconds so, J/s which is defined as a Watt (W)
How much power can you generate for an hour? A fit person can generally generate 3 W/kg for about an hour. So, assuming you are fit, what is your power output for an hour?
Athletic Power Output Tour de France cyclist Floyd Landis has been recorded spending nearly four hours straight at a power output of more than 500 watts. That's a maximum-effort sprint that can only be held for a few seconds to most recreational riders. (Of course he was also stripped of his win due to doping.)
Athletic Power Output Elite track sprinters are able to attain an instantaneous maximum output of around 2,000 watts, or in excess of 25 watts/kg.
Athletic Power Output Elite road cyclists may produce 1,600 to 1,700 watts as an instantaneous maximum in their burst to the finish line at the end of a five- hour long road race.
Example 1 If your basement is full of 7.5x104 kg of water, how long will it take a 0.50 kW pump to remove the water if the basement is 3 m deep? Answer: 4410 s
Example 2 What power output is required by a 77.3 kg marine to climb an 8.0 m rope at constant speed in 6.0 s? Answer: 1010 W