Questions tagged [power]
The time rate of change of energy
3
votes
1answer
216 views
High Voltage Powerlines - clarification of energy loss
I've been having a bit of trouble understanding the High-Voltage powerlines. If I was sending power from $A \rightarrow B$, we have:
Ohm's law $V = IR$
Power lost in the form of heat $P = I^2 R$
...
5
votes
2answers
960 views
How do you calculate power at the focal point of a mirror?
I'm a Mechanical Engineering student and I'm working on my senior project, so I need help. My project is about designing a solar dish having a diameter of 1.5 meters and a focal length of 60cm. so at ...
53
votes
9answers
21k views
What practical issues remain for the adoption of Thorium reactors?
From what I've read on thorium reactors, there's enormous benefit to them. Their fuel is abundant enough to power human civilization for centuries, their fission products are relatively short-lived, ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Why does it take so long to make a nuclear bomb?
So as I know nuclear bombs are derived from fission reactions: By providing the nucleus with enough power to trigger a chain reaction. If uranium was present why does it take so much to make a nuclear ...
6
votes
2answers
280 views
Why isn't the product rule used in the definition of mechanical work?
Mechanical power is normally defined as $P = \mathrm{d}W/\mathrm{d}t$, and work is normally defined as $W = \vec F \cdot \vec x$. Today an undergrad pointed out a confusion he had from Griffiths' E&...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Why does the work-energy theorem need to include internal forces?
Can anyone kindly explain me why work energy theorem must also include internal forces?
The proof of work energy theorem is derived from Newton's laws of motion, but Newton's laws of motion don't ...
8
votes
3answers
3k views
Trying to understand jet engine [closed]
I'm trying to understand at a high level how a jet engine works. I want to know if the following summary I wrote is more or less accurate:
The jet compresses regular air into a combustion chamber. ...
1
vote
3answers
9k views
How do I calculate the power consumed by a lightbulb?
I'm studying a lightbulb and its variable resistance, given by the expression:
$R(T) = Ro[1 + α(T-T_0)]$, where $R_0$ is the resistance of the lamp at $T_0$.
In this case, $R$ is not given by Ohm's ...
9
votes
2answers
5k views
Quantum Computing Power Advantages
Currently, the world's fastest supercomputer runs at 17.59 Petaflops, which consumes 9 megawatts of electricity. A qubit-based quantum computer has the potential to operate much more quickly for some ...
0
votes
2answers
681 views
Electric power transmission
If we want to transmit electic current for a long distance, we must minimize a heat that releases because of the resistanse. We cannot make a cable wide because it is expensive and it will be massive. ...
27
votes
5answers
5k views
Is it possible to build a thermoelectric nuclear power plant?
Current nuclear power plants are essentially an enhanced version of a kettle, which seems like a stupidity caused by a lack of other options. We heat the water which turns to steam which rotates the ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Sun constant formula derivation
In a book, I've to read for a class at my university, called 'Duurzame Energietechniek' (Dutch, translated: renewable energy) they gave a formula that looks like:
$$\text{G}_\text{sc}\left(\text{n}\...
1
vote
1answer
877 views
Relation between power and energy
If I have an expression for the 'rated generator power' of a wind turbine, call it $P(t)$ how is the energy, that the wind turbine generator generate, related to the power $P(t)$?
So:
$$E(t)=\...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
How much power and energy is (actually) in a 230 dB “click” from a whale?
In the BBC Science in Action podcast the acoustic power of a 1 millisecond "click" from a whale was said to be 230 dB. The related BBC article mentions this number and elaborates:
The blue whale is ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Car “oomph”: power or torque?
Two of the most important magnitudes that characterize a car's engine are maximum power and maximum torque. How are those two magnitudes related to the sensation that the car has "oomph" or is "...
2
votes
0answers
175 views
Estimating the battery capacity using current power consumption and battery percentage
I want to estimate the current maximum capacity (in kWh) having the current power consumption (in kWh) and the state of charge of the battery (in %) available in a time series.
I do not have a full ...
1
vote
3answers
189 views
What does the equation $P=\vec{F}\cdot \vec{v}$ really mean?
Let's say that we have a car travelling at a constant velocity (V) on a flat plane , let's assume that it's applied force or the force applied from its engine ( Fapp ) balances the frictional force ( ...
0
votes
4answers
1k views
Ohmic Heating in Wires
please could someone tell me why Ohmic losses are always referred to as $I^2 R$ losses? Here is my problem. If the power coming from a power station is fixed then you can either deliver this power as ...
7
votes
6answers
5k views
Intuitively, Why is Power Proportional to $I^2R$
As the resistance of a circuit goes down, the power increases because the current increases, assuming constant voltage. Why is this? I feel like resistance and current are inversely proportional, so ...
3
votes
4answers
638 views
Should we forget fusion and focus on geothermal power? [closed]
Firstly I can say that I would love us to come up with a sustainable fusion solution. However with the latest estimates being 2050 at the earliest for an effective fusion solution and the planets ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
Contradiction in Ohm's Law and relation $P=VI$
Ohm's law states that electric current is directly proportional to voltage provided that physical conditions like temperature remain constant i.e.
$$V = IR$$
On the other hand,
$$\text{Power = ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Optimal speed for the water wheel
The hydroelectricity plants extract the potential energy of highly deployed massive object (water) as it falls down. Without turbine, all that energy would be converted into speed (kinetic energy) at ...
3
votes
3answers
809 views
How many photons in a ultrafast laser pulse?
Photon has a specific wavelength $\lambda$. Imagine we created a mode-locked pulse, with $80\: \text{MHz}$ repetition rate, i.e. pulse are separated by $13\: \text{ns}$. The pulse duration is $4\: \...
2
votes
3answers
4k views
Is Ohm's law obeyed in power transmission?
We learnt in high school that according to Ohm's law $V/I=R$.
We also learnt that during power transmission in an electric line $P=VI$ and that in order to minimize loss voltage is raised. As a ...
-1
votes
3answers
4k views
Transformers: relation between their current, voltage and resistance
My current understanding
Transformers are used to step up and down voltage keeping power constant. Hence, for example, if I step up some voltage, the current will decrease in the secondary circuit.
...
7
votes
3answers
29k views
$\rm Lux$ and $W/m^2$ relationship?
I am reading a bit about solar energy, and for my own curiosity, I would really like to know the insolation on my balcony. That could tell me how much a solar panel could produce.
Now, I don't have ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views
Why high voltage transmission lines?
This is a question which I seem to have tackled multiple times, solved each time after reading a dodgy internet explanation, then partially forgotten about and retackled half a year later. It is time ...
4
votes
1answer
841 views
Why aren't (domestic) kettles insulated?
In my experience of buying and using kettles, I have come across none which are insulated.
The obvious reasons as to why it would be beneficial being that heating time would be reduced, similarly, ...
3
votes
3answers
7k views
Does the 'mAh' rating of a battery have something to do with its power?
I'm curious about the 'mAh' of a battery: how can this impact the power of the battery?
I've done some research on the internet, and most of the articles I found explain about the 'amount of charge ...
2
votes
1answer
5k views
Why is the lamp with the lower power rating brighter in the series circuit?
If I have two lamps, both of them have different power values, and voltage value is constant , I've been told that the lamp that has less power would be brighter and make more light than the lamp that ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Electric power and resistance dependance
According to the equations,
$$P=VI =I^2R\,\text{ and voltage } V=IR$$
it seems clear that when the resistance is lower by fixing the voltage at constant, the current is therefore, higher, generating ...
2
votes
1answer
9k views
Calculating the mechanical power of a water pump
Say I want to pump water from one container to another. The water levels are 3 meters apart, and I want to pump 10 litres per hour. I figure the mechanical power necessary, assuming no losses, is:
$$
...
2
votes
2answers
407 views
Does a rocket engine apply more power as the rocket's speed increases? [duplicate]
To clarify my level of knowledge, I'm a high school student all the way through AP Physics C: Mechanics.
So, let's imagine that there is a rocket travelling through the vacuum of space (ignoring ...
1
vote
4answers
371 views
infinite power from constant force?
P = W/t = Fd/t = Fv
So, if we keep exerting a small constant force and the velocity keeps increasing to near infinite, we should be able to get near-infinite power from the small constant force.
We ...
1
vote
1answer
642 views
Formula connecting Force and Power
Is there such formula? There probably is of course, but i would like a very concise description of how to derive it, in order to better understand myself. Thank you in advance.
4
votes
2answers
965 views
What is a single word that describes the idea of the second time derivative of energy?
I think about position, its time derivative speed, and its second time derivative, acceleration. I would like to identify a single word that can be used as a handle for the second time derivative of ...
4
votes
2answers
383 views
How is the dot product a generalization of multiplication?
I've seen an interesting explanation for lots of what I previously thought were unmotivated definitions in Newtonian mechanics, namely that power is always defined as effort times flow. But when ...
3
votes
3answers
3k views
Power to suspend a mass in air
How much power is needed to suspend a mass in the air?
The four parts below deal with the same problem. I post them all here, should there be some subtle things I didn't see.
The textbook problem
A ...
3
votes
4answers
10k views
Difference between $I^2R$ and $V^2/R$ and $VI$ for measuring power $P$
We use $I^2R$ or $V^2/R$ or $VI$ for measuring power $P$. Are all of these applicable for all circuits? I have seen in some circuit $V^2/R$ is not equal to $I^2R$. Why is that?
2
votes
3answers
632 views
Nuclear physics problem, Why do we use high weight atomic elements?
So as far as I know, nuclear fission uses high weight atomic elements to manufacture power. If the risk of runaway reactions are a major reason for not expanding this technology, why don't we use ...
2
votes
1answer
248 views
Does a 27 hp engine output the same amount of energy as lifting a 1 ton stone block almost 3 meters per second?
I’m trying to get a sense of how much energy a 27 horsepower engine outputs.
27 hp $=$ 20 133 watts (joules/second). Potential energy can be calculated as $E = mgh$ where $g = ~9.8\ m/s^2$ on earth. ...
2
votes
1answer
11k views
Why is power dissipated in a circuit maximum when external resistance is equal to the internal resistance in the circuit? [closed]
[![question 24][1]][1]Suppose in a circuit the battery has emf 6V and internal resistance 3ohm. It is connected to an external resistance = R ohm. According to my ...
1
vote
2answers
35k views
Confusion about P=VI and V=IR
If we look at $P=VI$, we see that if the current doubles then the potential difference is halved
but this doesn't seem to make sense according to $V=IR$. If we look at that equation, since the ...
1
vote
1answer
207 views
Minimum Power Required to Maintain a Population Inversion
According to many sources, the minimum power required to maintain a population N in the upper level of a two level laser system is $$P_{min}=fA_{21}Nh\nu$$ where $f$ accounts for the lack of 100% ...
1
vote
2answers
3k views
What's the intensity of a laser pointer?
The unit of intensity or the irradiance of the light is $\mathrm{W/m^2}$. So what's the intensity of a light pointer?
Searching on the web, the laser pointer's power is about $5\mathrm{mW}$, imagine ...
1
vote
1answer
5k views
Power dissipated on internal resistance of short-circuited voltage source
Suppose we have a voltage source with an EMF of $\mathcal{E}$ and an internal resistance $R$. If we connect to it a perfect wire with zero resistance, we get a short circuit. The value of the current ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
Power dissipation in AC RC circuit [closed]
Can anyone help me with this question?
A 20 A peak-to-peak 60 Hz current passes through a 0.01 µF capacitor which is in series with a 33 Ω resistor. What is the power dissipation?
I have attempted ...
0
votes
4answers
60 views
Why does only one of the DC circuit power equations work for me here?
I know that $$ P=IV=I^2R=\frac{V^2}{R}$$
I solved for the current using the loop rule $$I=.47$$ but to solve for the Power output of the 16V battery I could only find the power by finding the ...
0
votes
3answers
185 views
How feasible is it to power your home with a bicycle? [closed]
This article claims "60 Minutes On This Bicycle Can Power Your Home For 24 Hours!" How feasible is this claim? Sounds great - but the skeptic in me says "yeah, right."
Hope this is an acceptable ...
-1
votes
1answer
83 views
Calculating power with force as a function of time [closed]
While doing an AP question in Physics C today I answered the question differently from the professor but I'm not sure what part of my reasoning is incorrect.
A $100\ \rm{kg}$ block is being pulled ...
