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, Fri, 1 Apr 2005 07:38:20
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Torque. Dictionary describes torque as follows:
1. The moment of a force; the measure of a force's tendency to produce torsion and rotation about an axis, equal to the vector product of the radius vector from the axis of rotation to the point of application of the force and the force vector.
2. A turning or twisting force.
In other words its the actual twisting force exerted on the output shaft of the engine, through the transmission, to the drive shafts, and ultimately to the wheels. Often measured in cars as pounds-feet.
If you can imagine a bar attached to the axle and extending out from the axis of that axle like a lever that is one foot long, its the equivalent force of so many pounds on the very end of that one foot bar. Thus 200 lb-ft of torgue is like a one foot lug wrench with a little less than me standing on the end of it... This force is most important when thinking of acceleration. More torque = better acceleration usually.
Horsepower, on the other hand, is torque applied over time. Here is the official definition:
1. Abbr. hp A unit of power in the U.S. Customary System, equal to 745.7 watts or 33,000 foot-pounds per minute.
2. The power exerted by a horse in pulling.
The international standard for horsepower if further defined as:
A power level of 1 hp is approximately equivalent to 746 watts (W) or 0.746 kilowatts (kW). To convert from horsepower to watts, multiply by 746. To convert from watts to horsepower, multiply by 0.00134. To convert from horsepower to kilowatts, multiply by 0.746. To convert from kilowatts to horsepower, multiply by 1.34.
You'll find some cars, such as the Honda S2000 have a lot of horsepower for it's displacement, but not a lot of torque. How do they do this? High RPMs gets you the power, while the torque is rather sucky, comparatively. This is the reason small displacement engines rev higher to get the power they need to overcome the low torque numbers. American muscle cars on the other hand are large, very torquey engines, and don't require to be revved high in order to produce high horsepower (not to mention that the internal revolving parts are larger, and heavier...).
Hope this helps.
Jim Miller, VP WASSAAB.
, Fri, 1 Apr 2005 07:38:20
, Fri, 1 Apr 2005 12:28:59, Fri, 1 Apr 2005 19:38:01, Fri, 1 Apr 2005 12:27:47, Fri, 1 Apr 2005 08:38:07
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