As such, the P mean will always be a lower value and represents the power across the entire movement, whereas the P peak is the power during the highest discrete time point (figure 2.1). Power (W) = force (N) × velocity (m/s)įurther, power can be expressed as the mean over the time of the movement, termed mean system power (P mean), or as the highest peak instantaneous system power (P peak). Simplified further (because velocity = displacement ÷ time), we can once again rearrange the equation to what is commonly used or expressed by strength and conditioning practitioners as the equation for power: The following mathematical equations associated with power and work can be arranged several ways to derive the various equations for power.īecause work is a product of force and displacement, substitution leads to the following equation: The colloquial use of the term powerful was likely a loose interpretation of the mathematical definitions of power. Coaches often indicate that athletes are powerful by describing their movements as occurring at a high velocity relative to the force they must produce or load they must overcome during the movement.Therefore, movements that occur at slower velocities because of external loads that must be moved (e.g., another person during a tackle or a weighted jump squat) may still be described as powerful because the velocity is high relative to the force required or mass being accelerated. The unit of measure for work is the joule and the unit of measure for power is the watt (W), defined as a joule per second. Power is, by definition, the rate of doing work. The colloquial use of the term power as a generic trait is commonly misunderstood and interpreted. This is an excerpt from Developing Power by NSCA -National Strength & Conditioning Association & Mike McGuigan.