Which term describes the rate of doing work or using energy?

The term that describes the rate of doing work or using energy is power. Power quantifies how quickly work is accomplished or energy is transferred over time. It is defined as the amount of work done per unit of time, typically measured in watts in the International System of Units (SI).

Understanding power is crucial in building maintenance and operations because it allows professionals to assess the efficiency of systems and tools. For example, when evaluating machinery or electrical systems, knowing the power requirement helps in energy management and optimizing performance to ensure sustainable operations.

The other terms, while related to concepts of physics and energy, do not accurately describe the rate aspect. Work refers to the actual energy transferred when a force is applied over a distance, force is the push or pull that can cause an object to move, and energy is the capacity to do work. None of these define how quickly that work or energy is being utilized, which is the essence of power.