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ASVAB · Work, Energy, and Power

What is the relationship between work and power?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Power is the rate at which work is done (work divided by time)

  1. A Power is the rate at which work is done (work divided by time)
  2. B Work is power divided by force
  3. C They are the same thing
  4. D Power is work multiplied by distance

Why this is the answer

Power is the rate at which work is done — that is, the amount of work divided by the time taken (Power = Work ÷ Time). Two machines might do the same amount of work, but the one that does it faster has more power. For example, two motors that each lift the same load to the same height do equal work, but the faster one is more powerful. Work is measured in joules and power in watts (one watt = one joule per second). Understanding that power measures how quickly work is performed — not just how much — is a standard work-and-energy distinction.
Source: ASVAB MC, Work and Power

Practice more questions

This question is from our ASVAB Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Work, Energy, and Power and other topics.

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About this topic: Work, Energy, and Power

Work, energy and power questions cover work (force × distance), kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy, and power (work ÷ time), with units of joules and watts. Lifting, dropping and rolling objects are the standard scenarios. This is one of 7 Mechanical Comprehension questions on work, energy, and power, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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