What factors are necessary to determine power in a mechanical system?

To determine power in a mechanical system, the critical factors involved are the force exerted, the distance moved, and the time required to move that distance. Power is defined as the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over time.

In this context, work is calculated as the product of force and distance (Work = Force × Distance). Therefore, once you know the work done and the time it took to do that work, you can calculate power using the formula:

Power = Work / Time.

Substituting the work equation into this formula gives:

Power = (Force × Distance) / Time.

This clearly shows that power is directly related to how much force is applied to move something over a distance in a specific amount of time, making the force exerted, distance moved, and time required essential factors in calculating power in mechanical systems.

The other options do not encompass the necessary parameters for calculating power in this context; for instance, while work done and energy consumed relate to energy principles, they are not sufficient for power calculation without including the time aspect.