on 3/26/2002 4:25 PM, Joseph B. Reid at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > My point was that the watt is a unit of mechanical power as > well as an electrical unit. That may be news to average Americans.
It is more than just a distinction between mechanical and electrical. The watt is also a unit of heating power, solar power, nuclear power, wind power, cooling power, battery power, etc., etc., etc. The watt is a unit of POWER, regardless what form the power is in. To further clarify, power is how fast energy is "done" (produced, consumed, transmitted, transformed). The power is the amount of energy divided by time. Therefore, the "kinds" of power are simply the same as the kinds of energy. If we measure the rate at which mechanical energy being added, then the power is mechanical power. If we measure the rate at which electrical energy is being consumed, then it is electrical power. If we measure the rate at which solar energy being received, then it is solar power. Etc. Etc. Etc. And, in SI, they are all measured in watts. I agree with Joe that this may all come as a surprise to many people. Regards, Bill Hooper physics professor (retired), Florida, USA ======================== Keep It Simple - Make It Metric! ========================
