Work & Power Calculator
Work is force pushed through a distance; power is how fast that work happens. Enter force, distance, and a time to get both.
Work done
500J
Power
100W
Work is force times the distance you push through — leave time blank if you only care about that. Add a time and you get power, which is how fast that work gets done.
How it works
Work equals force times distance, W = F·d. Push with 50 newtons over 10 meters and you've done 500 joules of work, regardless of how long it took.
Power is work spread over time, P = W/t. Do those 500 joules in 5 seconds and you're putting out 100 watts. Take twice as long and the power halves — same work, gentler effort.
Leave the time blank if you only want the work figure. Add a time and the power appears; the tool ignores a zero or empty time rather than dividing by it.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between work and power?
Work is the total energy transferred, in joules. Power is how quickly you transfer it, in watts. Carrying boxes upstairs is the same work whether you sprint or stroll — sprinting just means more power.
How do I calculate power?
Divide the work done by the time it took: P = W/t. Five hundred joules in ten seconds is 50 watts. Enter a force, distance, and time and the calculator handles both steps.
What is one watt?
One joule of work done every second. A watt is small on its own, which is why appliances are rated in hundreds or thousands of them — a kilowatt is just a thousand watts.