Difference Between Power and Strength

Power and strength are often seen as synonymous words as they both depict an ability to do something and the state of being at an advantage. However, these two have different meanings and it may sometimes sound strange if they would be used interchangeably. Power is the combination of force and speed while strength generally focuses on force. The following discussions further delve into their distinctions.  

What is Power?

“Power” came from the Latin word “posse” which means “be able”. It is usually defined as the ability to generate an outcome, having the authority, being mighty, or moving with force. Specifically, the following disciplines have their respective definitions of power: 

• Math

-Exponentiation: The operation of increasing one quantity to a certain power such as “seven raised to the third power is equal to three hundred forty-three (7 ³   =343)”

-Power of a Point: This is also known as power of a circle or circle power. This is represented by “h” in the formula: h= s²-r²  ; where “s” stands for the distance and “r” for radius. 

-Statistical Power: This ranges from zero to one and it determines the probability of incorrectly accepting or rejecting the hypotheses. 

• Physics

-Power: This is a scalar quantity that is computed by determining the rate of work over time. 

-Magnification: A magnification power of 1 and above denotes an enlargement while a number less than one refers to de-magnification. 

• Electricity

-Electric Power: The utilization of electric current to energize various equipment. 

• Politics

-Political or Social Power: This refers to the ability to influence situations or people 

What is Strength?

“Strength” came from the Old English word, “strengþu” which translates to “force, firmness, bodily power, and moral resistance”. It is largely defined as the capacity for endurance or exertion and is synonymous with might and sinew. The following disciplines have their respective utilizations of the term “strength”: 

• Psychology

-Character Strengths: It covers positive traits such as wisdom, courage, justice, and transcendence. 

-Persuasive Strength: The ability of an argument to convince others. 

-Willpower: The capacity to regulate behavior in response to temptations 

• Politics

-Party Strength: The level of representation of a political party in various areas. 

-Military Strength: This is measured by combat readiness, force structure, and sustainable capability. 

• Physics

-Compressive Strength: This is the ability to withstand pushing force. 

-Tensile Strength: This is the maximum stress endured when being stretched. 

-Shear Strength: The toughness of a material against deformation. 

-Explosive Strength: The ability of an explosive to move materials within the perimeter. 

-Field Strength: This is a field vector’s magnitude. 

Difference between Power and Strength

1. Etymology

Power came from the Latin word “posse” which means “be able” while “strength” came from the Old English word, “strengþu” which translates to “force, firmness, bodily power, and moral resistance”.

2. Speed

Power is defined as the combination of speed and force while strength generally focuses on force. Power is more dynamic as it covers the capability of quickly producing force. 

3. Functional Activities

As compared to strength, power is more relevant to the performance of functional activities such as walking up the stairs and running as it entails movement. 

4. Sports

As compared to strength, power is more utilized in sports than strength as plyometric movements are incorporated in almost all competitions. 

5. Electricity

The ability of a device to run is dependent on electric power. Strength is not used for such machine-related energy. 

6. Direct Opposite

The direct opposite of strength is “weakness”. On the other hand, power has no direct antonym; for instance, “lack of power”. 

7. Diplomacy

Unlike strength, power is utilized in diplomatic terms. For instance, hard power means coercion is used while soft power is the manipulation of cultural and other abstract factors and smart power is the combination of both hard and soft powers. 

8. Lifting 

As compared to power, strength is more related to lifting as it is concerned with the physical energy against gravity. 

9. Character

As compared to power, strength is more often associated with describing one’s character. For instance, the usual question during interviews is, “Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses”. 

10. Developmental Dimensions 

Power is more often connected with an individual’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions while strength is usually understood in the context of physical capacity. 

11. Mathematics

Unlike strength, power is used in mathematical terms such as exponential power, power of a point, and statistical power. 

12. Unit

The unit for power is watt (W) while that of strength is mostly related to “stress” in physics, specifically material science, which uses Pascal (Pa). 

Power vs Strength: Comparison Chart

Summary of Power vs Strength

• Power and strength are often seen as synonymous words as they both depict an ability to do something and the state of being at an advantage.
• Both power and strength are associated with several disciplines like physics and politics. 
• “Power” came from the Latin word “posse” which means “be able”.
• “Strength” came from the Old English word, “strengþu” which translates to “force, firmness, bodily power, and moral resistance”.
• Power is the combination of force and speed while strength generally focuses on force. 
• Unlike strength, power is more associated with functional activities, sports, diplomacy, electricity, and mathematics. 
• As compared to strength, power can cover more developmental dimensions regarding context. 
• Lifting generally makes use of strength more than power. 
• The unit for power is Watt while that of strength in material science (stress) is Pascal. 

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