Final answer:
The least power is produced in lifting a mass of 5 kilograms for a distance of 5 meters in 10 seconds, which results in a power output of 25 Watts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which action would produce the least power in terms of lifting different masses to different heights over varying amounts of time. To find the solution, we calculate the power for each scenario using the formula:
Power = (Force × Distance) / Time
Where Force is the weight of the mass (mass × gravity), and gravity is approximated to 10 m/s².
For options A, B, and C, the force is 10 kg × 10 m/s² = 100 N, whereas for option D it's 5 kg × 10 m/s² = 50 N.
- A: Power = (100 N × 10 m) / 10 s = 100 W
- B: Power = (100 N × 10 m) / 5 s = 200 W
- C: Power = (50 N × 10 m) / 5 s = 100 W
- D: Power = (50 N × 5 m) / 10 s = 25 W
Therefore, the action producing the least power is option D: a mass of 5 kilograms lifted 5 meters in 10 seconds.