{
    "name": "Mechanical Power Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/mechanical-power-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/mechanical-power-calculator.md",
    "category": "Science & engineering",
    "description": "Find power from work and time or from force and speed, or the work done or time needed at a given power, in watts, kilowatts and horsepower.",
    "summary": "Power is the rate of doing work: P = W ÷ t. For a steady push it is also force times speed, P = F v. Solve for power, work or time.",
    "also_called": [
        "Work–power–time calculator",
        "P = Fv calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "method",
            "label": "Calculate from",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "work_time",
            "options": {
                "work_time": "Work and time",
                "force_velocity": "Force and speed"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "solve",
            "label": "Solve for",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "power",
            "options": {
                "power": "Power",
                "work": "Work",
                "time": "Time"
            },
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "work_time"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "work",
            "label": "Work or energy",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "6000",
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "work_time"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "work_unit",
            "label": "Work unit",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "j",
            "options": {
                "j": "joules (J)",
                "kj": "kilojoules (kJ)",
                "mj": "megajoules (MJ)",
                "wh": "watt-hours (Wh)",
                "kwh": "kilowatt-hours (kWh)",
                "cal": "calories (cal)",
                "kcal": "kilocalories (kcal)",
                "ftlbf": "foot-pounds (ft·lbf)",
                "btu": "BTU"
            },
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "work_time"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "power",
            "label": "Power",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "300",
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "work_time"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "power_unit",
            "label": "Power unit",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "w",
            "options": {
                "w": "watts (W)",
                "kw": "kilowatts (kW)",
                "mw": "megawatts (MW)",
                "hp": "mechanical horsepower (hp)",
                "ps": "metric horsepower (PS)",
                "ftlbfs": "ft·lbf/s",
                "btuh": "BTU/h"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "force",
            "label": "Force",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "500",
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "force_velocity"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "force_unit",
            "label": "Force unit",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "n",
            "options": {
                "n": "newtons (N)",
                "kn": "kilonewtons (kN)",
                "lbf": "pounds-force (lbf)",
                "kgf": "kilograms-force (kgf)"
            },
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "force_velocity"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "velocity",
            "label": "Speed",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2",
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "force_velocity"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "velocity_unit",
            "label": "Speed unit",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "ms",
            "options": {
                "ms": "m/s",
                "kmh": "km/h",
                "mph": "mph",
                "fts": "ft/s",
                "kn": "knots"
            },
            "shown_when": {
                "method": "force_velocity"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "time",
            "label": "Time (duration)",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "20"
        },
        {
            "name": "time_unit",
            "label": "Time unit",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "s",
            "options": {
                "s": "seconds",
                "ms": "milliseconds",
                "min": "minutes",
                "h": "hours"
            }
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "answer",
            "label": "Result",
            "format": "text"
        },
        {
            "key": "power_w",
            "label": "Power",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "power_kw",
            "label": "Power",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "power_hp",
            "label": "Power (mechanical hp)",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "power_ps",
            "label": "Power (metric hp)",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "work_j",
            "label": "Work over the duration",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "time_s",
            "label": "Time",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "P = W ÷ t;  W = P t;  t = W ÷ P;  P = F v",
        "variables": {
            "P": "power in watts (1 hp = 745.700 W; 1 PS = 735.499 W)",
            "W": "work or energy in J",
            "t": "time in s",
            "F": "force along the motion in N",
            "v": "speed in m/s"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "method": "work_time",
            "solve": "power",
            "work": "6000",
            "work_unit": "j",
            "power": "300",
            "power_unit": "w",
            "force": "500",
            "force_unit": "n",
            "velocity": "2",
            "velocity_unit": "ms",
            "time": "20",
            "time_unit": "s"
        },
        "steps": [
            "P = W ÷ t.",
            "P = 6,000 J ÷ 20 s = 300 W (0.3 kW, about 0.40 hp)."
        ],
        "result": "Doing 6,000 J of work in 20 seconds takes 300 W of mechanical power."
    },
    "interpretation": "This is output (useful) power. A motor or engine must draw more input power than this because of its efficiency losses; divide by the efficiency to size the drive. For torque and rpm, use the Horsepower Calculator.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Average power over the stated time; force and speed along the same line."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Peak power during acceleration can be much higher than the average."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "How many watts is one horsepower?",
            "answer": "Mechanical (imperial) horsepower is 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.700 W. Metric horsepower (PS) is 75 kgf·m/s = 735.499 W."
        },
        {
            "question": "Why use P = F v?",
            "answer": "For steady motion it avoids needing a time: a cyclist pushing 20 N of drag at 10 m/s needs 200 W."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [
        {
            "title": "BIPM: The International System of Units (SI)",
            "url": "https://www.bipm.org/"
        }
    ],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Horsepower Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/horsepower-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Work Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/mechanical-work-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Kinetic Energy Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/kinetic-energy-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Potential Energy Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/potential-energy-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}