How is power defined in mechanical terms?

In mechanical terms, power is defined as the rate at which work is done. This means it quantifies how quickly energy is transferred or converted from one form to another during the performance of work. Mathematically, power can be expressed as the work done divided by the time it takes to do that work. This relationship highlights that if a large amount of work is done in a short time, the power is high, whereas if the same amount of work is done over a longer period, the power is lower. Understanding this concept is fundamental in mechanics, as it helps to analyze the efficiency and performance of various mechanical systems.