2 ships on a river...

This is a simple question testing your basic understanding of what power means. I don't want to give you the answer, but I will help you reason it through.

Can you tell me what the term power means? What do you do (or have you done) to measure power?

Hint: It may help to use the scientific term "work" in your answer.

...
Cool question.

Look as both as forces.

The cable under tension and the 450 Hp times the velocity of the current.

Rap

Oopps divided by velocity

Rap

The answer of course is that the anchor "produces" zero power. Power involves the changing of energy. The anchor isn't burning gas, or changing position. It is just sitting there doing nothing and theorectically could stay there doing nothing for eternity.

This means that there is no change of energy, no work and no power.

Now the interesting part of this problem is the first ship. How is the engine (which is burning gas and certainly changing energy in a way that it can't do forever) different from the anchor when their effect is the same.

This is interesting when you look at the two obvious frames of reference.

I will discuss this more when I have a bit more time...

Completely off-topic:

raprap - do you ride a GS? I've got one myself and love it ('04 1150).

KP

All over North America
I'd have to say Big Bird is the best all-around bike I've ever owned. Mine's an 02 and it's barely broken in at 49,000 miles. I sold my FLH last summer after I found I only ridden it 200 miles in 2 years.

Rap