Physics

Problem

A cyclist applies a constant horizontal force of

200\,\text{N}

on the road and moves with a steady speed of

6\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1}

. Calculate the mechanical power developed by the cyclist.

Intuitive explanation

Power measures how fast you do work—it's the rate at which energy is transferred. Since the cyclist moves at constant speed, the applied force isn't accelerating them; instead, it's exactly balancing friction and air resistance. The key insight is that mechanical power is simply force times velocity: $P = Fv$ . Plug in the numbers directly to find how many joules of energy the cyclist converts per second.

Intuitive explanation

Browse the problem library