Human mechanical output
The sustained rate at which a person can perform mechanical work, such as cycling or lifting.
100 WPowerEveryday quantities
Human mechanical output vs Car engine
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
Car engine
The mechanical power output delivered by a car engine to propel the vehicle.
100 kWPowerCar engine has about 1,000 times the power of Human mechanical output.
01
Human mechanical output100 WPower
02
Car engine100 kWPower
Power is energy per unit time: one watt is one joule per second.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Human mechanical output
A chosen 100 W sustained mechanical output, not total metabolic power.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked power is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Car engine
A chosen 100 kW rated mechanical output, not constant fuel consumption.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked power is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares power with power. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
Human mechanical output
100 WPower · example
A chosen 100 W sustained mechanical output, not total metabolic power.
Car engine
100 kWPower · example
A chosen 100 kW rated mechanical output, not constant fuel consumption.
- Comparing
- Power ↔ Power
- Relative size
- Car engine is larger on this measurement by a factor of about 1,000.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- Human mechanical output is labelled example; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- Car engine is labelled example; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
PowerHuman mechanical output100 WThe sustained rate at which a person can perform mechanical work, such as cycling or lifting.PowerCar engine100 kWThe mechanical power output delivered by a car engine to propel the vehicle.
PowerLED bulb9 WThe electrical power drawn by a light-emitting diode lamp used for illumination.
PowerElectric kettle3 kWThe electrical power used by an electric kettle to heat water.
PowerWind turbine5 MWThe rated electrical power output of a wind-driven generator.
SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.Side by side
Another point of view.
