How is the rate at which work is done defined?

The rate at which work is done is defined as power. Power quantifies how quickly work is performed or energy is transferred over time. It is defined mathematically as the amount of work done divided by the time it takes to do that work. The standard unit of power is the watt, which is equal to one joule per second. This concept is essential in various applications, such as electrical systems and mechanical systems, where understanding how quickly work can be accomplished is crucial for efficiency and performance estimation.

While energy is a fundamental concept closely related to work and power, it refers to the capacity to perform work rather than the rate at which work is done. Force is concerned with the push or pull applied to an object and is one of the factors that can affect work, but it does not represent the rate of work being done. Velocity, defined as the speed of an object in a given direction, is also not related to the rate at which work is accomplished. Therefore, power is the most accurate term for describing the rate of doing work.