How much power physics question

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The discussion revolves around calculating the effective power of a machine in flight, considering energy loss due to air resistance. It is established that a watt is defined as a joule per second, and thus, if a machine requires 60 watts to maintain velocity while losing 2500 joules due to air resistance, the total power needed would be 2500 watts plus the 60 watts for flight. However, without knowing the time of flight, which is specified as 30 minutes to reach a height of 2230 meters, the calculation of "real" power remains incomplete. The participants emphasize the necessity of time to convert total energy loss into a power measurement. Ultimately, the clarification of the question is deemed essential for accurate calculations.
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For example, if it takes 60 watts of Power for a machine to fly, yet loses (for instance) 2.5 * 10^3 Joules of its energy because of the air resistance, what's the amount of "Power" that was really given in the first place?
 
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I'm not sure I totally understand the problem but a watt is a joule/second, so if the plane needs 60 joules per second to maintain its velocity but loses 2500 joules per second because of air resistance, then the power required would be 2500 watts + 60 watts no?
 
Since the power is energy per second - and you have only given a total energy figure for the amount lost to air resistance, then it is not possible to calculate the "real" power without also knowing the time of flight.

But I suspect you just need to reword the question to make it clear.
 
The time of flight is 30 minutes to reach a height of 2230 meters
 
Simon Bridge said:
it is not possible to calculate the "real" power without also knowing the time of flight.
 
tennis38 said:
The time of flight is 30 minutes to reach a height of 2230 meters
So if you lost 2500J in 30mins... How many J in 1sec?
 

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