View Poll Results: HP -> Acceleration... not Torque!
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HP -> Acceleration... not Torque!
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 594
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From: Rochester
Originally posted by Zoran
OK, my previous post finally made me realize what is absolutely the simplest way to explain why is it the HP that accelerates your car.
Wheel torque accelerates your car. Everyone (even the most stubborn "torque enthusiasts") will give you that.
Since WheelTorque = EngineTorque*Gearing, and Gearing = EngineRPM/WheelRPM, and EngineHP = EngineTorque * EngineRPM, we get that:
WheelTorque = EngineHP/WheelRPM
At any given speed, there's nothing you can do to change your wheel RPM, so your wheel torque (and thus your acceleration) is DIRECTLY proportional to the engine HP at that RPM.
I really cannot think of a simpler way to explain this.
OK, my previous post finally made me realize what is absolutely the simplest way to explain why is it the HP that accelerates your car.
Wheel torque accelerates your car. Everyone (even the most stubborn "torque enthusiasts") will give you that.
Since WheelTorque = EngineTorque*Gearing, and Gearing = EngineRPM/WheelRPM, and EngineHP = EngineTorque * EngineRPM, we get that:
WheelTorque = EngineHP/WheelRPM
At any given speed, there's nothing you can do to change your wheel RPM, so your wheel torque (and thus your acceleration) is DIRECTLY proportional to the engine HP at that RPM.
I really cannot think of a simpler way to explain this.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: NY
i've heard that as well, removing 1 lb of rotational weight is like removing 4-5 lbs of sprung mass, then you also have to take into account how much faster the car will be able to rev now that the rotational resistance has lowered and all that goes with that. the 2900 lbs would bebare curb with little gsa in it i'm sure, no driver nor rotational as you said, but that would get tricky adding up the rotational weight unless you know all of the driveshaft, flywheel and prezzurized wheel & tire weights, as well as anything else like halfshafts and so on.
I'd say it proves the same thing really, the actual numbers might be off bu the curves wouldn't change much, you'd still accelerate roughly with your torque curve.
I'd say it proves the same thing really, the actual numbers might be off bu the curves wouldn't change much, you'd still accelerate roughly with your torque curve.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 854
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From: Houston
[QUOTE]Originally posted by wc_one
[B]
"At any given time" you can only be in one gear (you cannot be in two different gears at the same time) so "maximum acceleration occurs at the torque peak" which is what I mean and we're agreeing on.
[B]
"At any given time" you can only be in one gear (you cannot be in two different gears at the same time) so "maximum acceleration occurs at the torque peak" which is what I mean and we're agreeing on.