View Full Version : What is the easiest way to determine force?
solomanmadron
Aug 6, 2009, 09:52 PM
I want to be able to track my workouts by Power or Intensity using the equation (F*d)/t. I am not a physics major and am looking for the easiest way to determine Force. As sample senario would be:
I weigh 95kg and I lift a weight of 25kg a distance of 2.5m from ground to overhead. I do this 10 times in 20 sec. My feet do not move from their original position. How would I put these figures into an equation to determine Power?
Unknown008
Aug 7, 2009, 04:10 AM
First of all, Energy = Force x Distance.
The rate of change of energy is power.
Therefore, you have Power x Time = Energy (from Power = Energy/Time)
And you have Power x Time = Force x Distance, which brings you to Power = (Force x Distance)/Time
or P = \frac{Fd}{t}
The force you provide is from F=ma. You have to take the mass of the object you're lifting, and multiply it by the acceleration due to gravity (or you take directly the weight, since weight is mass times gravity).
So, your power here is:
P = \frac{10(25 \times 9.81 \times 2.5)}{20}
ebaines
Aug 7, 2009, 06:04 AM
So, your power here is:
P = \frac{10(25 \times 9.81 \times 2.5)}{20}
In doing problems like this it is always advisable to include the units. In this case you have force in kg-m/s^2 times distance in m divided by time in sec, so you get power in terms of Kg-m^2/s^3, which is the same as watts.
Unknown008
Aug 7, 2009, 11:18 PM
Oh, OK ebaines. I'll include units from now on. :o