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Mechanical power: Difference between revisions

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[[File:2427920269_80102b5ca7_z.jpg|300px|thumb|Figure 1. A jet turbine can output a lot of work in a short amount of time, therefore having high mechanical power.<ref>Mark Hillary, Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/2427920269/in/photostream/</ref>]]
[[File:MWtMWe.png|300px|thumb|Figure 1. The power input in a heat engine is measured as [[MWt]], and the output power obtained as electricity is measured as [[MWe]].<ref>''Made internally by a member of the Encyclopedia team''</ref> The ratio of power out over power in is the efficiency.]][[File:2427920269_80102b5ca7_z.jpg|300px|thumbnail|Figure 2. A jet turbine can output a lot of work in a short amount of time, therefore having high mechanical power.<ref>Mark Hillary, Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/2427920269/in/photostream/</ref>]]
 
<onlyinclude>'''Mechanical power''' refers to the rate at which [[work]] can be done. It is a [[power]] output, as opposed to a power input (see Figure 1). The power input is referring to how fast the fuel's energy is converted to power to use for the car. In contrast, the power output, is how fast the [[engine]] can do work, when receiving the power from the fuel.</onlyinclude> The rate at which an engine uses fuel is the [[thermal power]]. Mechanical power is how fast [[mechanical energy]] can be delivered to a system. Recall that [[power]] is a transfer of [[energy]] in a specific amount of time.  
<onlyinclude>'''Mechanical power''' refers to the rate at which [[work]] can be done. It is a [[power]] output, as opposed to a power input (how fast the [[engine]] can do work, rather than how fast it uses [[fuel]]).</onlyinclude> The rate at which an engine uses fuel is the [[thermal power]]. Mechanical power is how fast [[mechanical energy]] can be delivered to a system. Recall that [[power]] is a transfer of [[energy]] in an amount of time.  


Mechanical power is often measured in [[horsepower]], although it's sometimes measured in [[watt]]s. Some examples:
Mechanical power is often measured in [[horsepower]], although it's sometimes measured in [[watt]]s. Some examples:
*The engine of a car
*The engine of a car
*The engine of an airplane
*The engine of an airplane (see figure 2)
*Using a crane to lift heavy things
*Using a crane to lift heavy things


If mechanical power is attained from an input of thermal power such as in a [[heat engine]] or [[power plant]], it is limited by the [[second law of thermodynamics]] and the maximum amount of mechanical power is given by the [[Carnot efficiency]].<ref name=Knight>R. D. Knight, "The Limits of Efficiency" in ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach,'' 3nd ed. San Francisco, U.S.A.: Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2008, ch.19, sec.5, pp. 540-542</ref> Mechanical power of a [[wind turbine]] is also limited, although in a totally different aspect, by the [[Betz limit]].<ref>WindPower Program, ''The Betz limit'' [Online], Available: http://www.wind-power-program.com/betz.htm</ref>


[[Simple machine]]s are idealized as lossless, meaning they do not [[law of conservation of energy|lose any energy]] in their manipulation of [[force]]s. Therefore the mechanical power is conserved throughout the duration of its output, and this allows them to be analyzed easily in terms of [[mechanical advantage]].<ref>Explain that stuff!, ''Tools and Simple Machines [Online], Available: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/toolsmachines.html</ref>
If mechanical power is from a [[heat engine]] like a [[power plant]], it is limited by the [[second law of thermodynamics]] and the maximum amount of mechanical power is given by the [[Carnot efficiency]].<ref name=Knight>R. D. Knight, "The Limits of Efficiency" in ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach,'' 3nd ed. San Francisco, U.S.A.: Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2008, ch.19, sec.5, pp. 540-542</ref> Mechanical power of a [[wind turbine]] is also limited, although in a totally different aspect, by the [[Betz limit]].<ref>WindPower Program, ''The Betz limit'' [Online], Available: http://www.wind-power-program.com/betz.htm</ref>
 
[[Simple machine]]s are idealized as lossless. This means they do not [[law of conservation of energy|lose any energy]] in their manipulation of [[force]]s. Therefore, mechanical power is conserved throughout the duration of its output, and this allows them to be analyzed easily in terms of [[mechanical advantage]].<ref>Explain that stuff!, ''Tools and Simple Machines [Online], Available: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/toolsmachines.html</ref>


Visit [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pow.html Hyperphysics] for more information about work and power.
Visit [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pow.html Hyperphysics] for more information about work and power.
==For Further Reading==
*[[Work]]
*[[Power]]
*[[Thermal power]]
*[[Thermal efficiency]]
*[[Carnot efficiency]]
*[[Second law of thermodynamics]]
*Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]
[[Category:Uploaded]]

Latest revision as of 01:13, 21 July 2018

Figure 1. The power input in a heat engine is measured as MWt, and the output power obtained as electricity is measured as MWe.[1] The ratio of power out over power in is the efficiency.
Figure 2. A jet turbine can output a lot of work in a short amount of time, therefore having high mechanical power.[2]

Mechanical power refers to the rate at which work can be done. It is a power output, as opposed to a power input (see Figure 1). The power input is referring to how fast the fuel's energy is converted to power to use for the car. In contrast, the power output, is how fast the engine can do work, when receiving the power from the fuel. The rate at which an engine uses fuel is the thermal power. Mechanical power is how fast mechanical energy can be delivered to a system. Recall that power is a transfer of energy in a specific amount of time.

Mechanical power is often measured in horsepower, although it's sometimes measured in watts. Some examples:

  • The engine of a car
  • The engine of an airplane (see figure 2)
  • Using a crane to lift heavy things


If mechanical power is from a heat engine like a power plant, it is limited by the second law of thermodynamics and the maximum amount of mechanical power is given by the Carnot efficiency.[3] Mechanical power of a wind turbine is also limited, although in a totally different aspect, by the Betz limit.[4]

Simple machines are idealized as lossless. This means they do not lose any energy in their manipulation of forces. Therefore, mechanical power is conserved throughout the duration of its output, and this allows them to be analyzed easily in terms of mechanical advantage.[5]

Visit Hyperphysics for more information about work and power.

For Further Reading

References

  1. ↑ Made internally by a member of the Encyclopedia team
  2. ↑ Mark Hillary, Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/2427920269/in/photostream/
  3. ↑ R. D. Knight, "The Limits of Efficiency" in Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, 3nd ed. San Francisco, U.S.A.: Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2008, ch.19, sec.5, pp. 540-542
  4. ↑ WindPower Program, The Betz limit [Online], Available: http://www.wind-power-program.com/betz.htm
  5. ↑ Explain that stuff!, Tools and Simple Machines [Online], Available: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/toolsmachines.html
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