VOA名师答疑 energy和power有什么区别

Hello!

大家好!

This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Max in Ukraine about the difference between "energy" and "power."

本周《名师答疑》，我们回答来自乌克兰的麦克斯提出的问题，即energy和power有什么区别。

Dear Learning¹ English, I'm Max from Ukraine.

亲爱的学英语栏目，我是来自乌克兰的麦克斯。

I'm improving my English by listening and viewing materials in VOA.

我通过听和看美国之音上的材料来提高我的英语水平。

I have a question about the difference in the meaning of two similar words: energy and power.

我有一个问题，就是energy和power这两个相似单词的意思有什么不同。

Thank you, Max.

谢谢，麦克斯。

Dear Max, thank you for this interesting question.

亲爱的麦克斯，谢谢你提出这个有趣的问题。

These words are commonly used interchangeably, meaning they are used in place of each other.

这两个词通常是可以互换的，意思是它们可以相互替代。

But there are important differences in use under some conditions.

但在某些情况下，两个词的用法有很大的区别。

Let’s start with how these two words differ in the study of science.

我们先看看这两个词在科学研究中的不同之处。

Energy is the ability to do work or create some kind of physical change.

能量是做功或者说造成某种物理变化的能力。

For example: Energy is used to lift a box.

例如：能量被用来举起一个箱子。

The amount of energy to lift the box is the same.

抬起箱子所需的能量是相同的。

But what if you can lift the box faster than someone else?

但如果你能比别人更快地抬起箱子呢？

This is where the word "power" comes in.

这个时候就要用power这个词了。

Power is how fast the work or change is done.

功率指的是做功或造成改变的速度。

In the field of physics, power is often measured in watts².

在物理学中，功率通常以瓦特为单位。

An energy-saving light bulb will use about 10 to 15 watts of power.

一个节能灯泡大约需要10到15瓦的电力。

Energy as a noun³ can describe the ability to do physical activities; it can be the feeling of life and enthusiasm⁴ that you use to complete tasks.

energy作为一个名词可以描述进行身体活动的能力；也可以是富有生命力的感受以及完成任务的热情。

If you have low or no energy, you may feel tired or run down.

如果你精力不足或没有精力，你可能会感到疲倦或筋疲力尽。

Energy can be temporary.

精力可能是暂时的。

You may have a lot of energy in the morning, but by the afternoon you may not have any energy.

早上你可能精力充沛，但到了下午你可能一点精力都没有了。

Coffee gives me energy, but it quickly wears off.

咖啡让我精力充沛，但这种感觉很快就会消失。

Power as a noun can mean the ability or capacity⁵ to do something.

power作为名词可以指做某事的能力。

It can also mean that it is within your means or you have the resources to do something.

也可以表示你有办法或者有资源去做某事。

This meaning has an association⁶ that power is naturally available.

这个意思会让人想到能力是自然而然地获得的。

I don’t have the brain power to finish my homework tonight.

我没有足够的脑力来完成今晚的作业。

To have power means that you have control over something.

拥有权力意味着你对某事有控制权。

If you have power, you have the ability and legal right to do something.

如果你有权力，你就有能力和合法的权利去做某事。

To "come into power" or "take power" in a country means that a person or group controls it in some way.

在一个国家"掌权"意味着一个人或一个团体以某种方式控制着这个国家。

King Charles III took on the powers of the British monarchy⁷ after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II died.

国王查尔斯三世在他的母亲伊丽莎白二世去世后，掌管了英国君主权力。

We can also use "power" to talk about energy resources like nuclear and electricity.

我们也可以用power来谈论像核能和电力这样的能源。

Nuclear power is environmentally friendly.

核能对环境友好。

Power can also be a verb meaning to provide energy to make something operate.

power也可以是动词，意思是提供能量使某物运转。

Batteries power our smart devices⁸ like cell phones.

电池为我们的智能设备供电，比如手机。

Please let us know if these examples have helped you, Max!

请让我们知道这些例句是否对你有帮助，麦克斯！

And that’s Ask a Teacher.

以上就是本期《名师答疑》。

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 watts   

（电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• My lamp uses 60 watts; my toaster uses 600 watts. 我的灯用60瓦，我的烤面包器用600瓦。
• My lamp uses 40 watts. 我的灯40瓦。

3 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。

4 enthusiasm   

n.热情，激情；巨大兴趣；热衷的事物

参考例句：

• We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
• A team which is full of enthusiasm is more likely to win.情绪高涨的球队更可能获胜。

5 capacity   

n.能力，力量，接受力；容量，能量，容积

参考例句：

• She is employed by the president in an advisory capacity.她被总裁聘为顾问。
• This carriage has a seating capacity of 120 people.这节车厢定员120人。

6 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

7 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

8 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备