Power of a Force via Movable Pulley

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Work and Energy Beginner power

Source: High school physics (Chinese)

Problem Sets:

work-energy 1018

Problem

As shown in Figure below, an object is lifted by an ideal movable pulley. A constant pulling force $F$ is applied, causing the object to accelerate upwards from rest at a constant acceleration $a_{obj}$.

Find the instantaneous power of the pulling force $F$ at time $t$.
P0485-problem-1

P0485-problem-1

$P = 2Fa_{obj}t$

For a movable pulley, the point where the force $F$ is applied moves at twice the speed of the object. Let $v_F$ be the velocity of the point of application of the force and $v_{obj}$ be the velocity of the object. Then $v_F = 2v_{obj}$. Similarly, the accelerations are related by $a_F = 2a_{obj}$.

The velocity of the point where the force is applied at time $t$, starting from rest, is:

$$v_F = a_F t = (2a_{obj})t$$

The instantaneous power $P$ delivered by the force $F$ is:

$$P = F v_F$$

Substituting the expression for $v_F$:

$$P = F(2a_{obj}t)$$