Topic 3 Work, Energy and Power

3.4: Power & Efficiency

Question 1
Calculate the power for the given energies and time:
(a) 20 J at 5 s;
(b) 100 J at 100 s;
(c) 45 J at 23 s.

Question 2
Calculate the time for the given energy and power:
(a) 100 W and 10 J;
(b) 1 kW and 5 kJ;
(c) 25 kW and 1 MJ.

Question 3
A person of weight 480 N climbs up the stairs of height 10 m in 12 s.
Calculate the power in each leg.

Question 4
An aircraft powered by engines that exert a force of 40 kN is in level flight at a
constant velocity of 80 m s -1. Calculate the motive power of the engine at this
speed.

Question 5
Calculate the drag force experienced by a lorry with motive power of 228 kW
moving at a constant speed of 31 m s-1.
What will its acceleration be?

Question 6
A child of mass 46 kg climbs 2.5 m up a rope in 18 s. Calculate:
(a) The work done;
(b) The energy transferred per second.

Question 7
Calculate the power of the engines of an aircraft at a speed of 250 m s -1, if the
maximum resistance felt by the aircraft is 2.0 MN.

Question 8
Calculate the height through which a 5 kg mass would need to be dropped to lose
the same amount of energy as a 100 W light bulb would use in 1 minute.

AS Physics Iqbal Hussain

Topic 3 Work, Energy and Power

Question 9
A rocket of mass 5 800 kg accelerates vertically from rest to a maximum speed
of 220 m s-1 in 25 s. Calculate:
(a) Its gain of potential energy;
(b) Its gain in kinetic energy;
(c) The power output of its engine.
(d) What assumptions have been made?

Question 10
In a test of muscles efficiency, an athlete on an exercise bicycle pedals against
a brake force of 30 N at a speed of 15 m s-1.
(a) Calculate the useful energy per second used by the athlete’s muscles.
(b) If the efficiency of the muscles is 25%, calculate the energy per second
supplied to the athletes muscles.

Question 11
An athlete of 90 kg performs press ups at the rate of 50 per minute for 6
minutes. For each press up, he raises 24 cm. Calculate:
(a) The total work done;
(b) The power required;
(c) The energy supplied if the efficiency of the muscles are 20%.
(d) Explain why the efficiency is low.

Question 12
A cars engine has a power output of 6.2 kW and uses fuel which releases 45 MJ
per kg when burned. At a speed of 30 m s -1 on a level road, the fuel usage of the
vehicle is 18 km per kg. Calculate:
(a) The time taken by the vehicle to travel 18 km at 30 m s -1;
(b) The useful energy supplied by the engine in this time;
(c) The overall efficiency of the engine.

Question 13
A power station has an overall efficiency of 35% and it produces 200 MW of
electrical power every second.
When 1 kg of fuel is burned, it releases 80 MJ of energy. Calculate:
(a) The energy per second supplied by the fuel;
(b) The mass of fuel burned per day.

AS Physics Iqbal Hussain