With some of the discussions on this forum about torque and horsepower and what each means and what's better to have more of, I found this interesting explanation in the April 2002 issue of Car and Driver.

Editor John Phillips explains the difference as:

"Horsepower is when your foot gets caught in the stirrup and you're dragged for a mile. Torque is when you push down your own erection and your feet fly out from beneath you."

I hope that clears things up.

 

 

Thanks, SB...that really clears it up!

 

I don't understand?

 

LMAO ROTFL

 

Here is my take on it.

Picture 2 guys on identical bicycles. The pedal cranks on each are 1 foot long. One guy weighs 100 pounds while the other guy weighs 200 pounds.

The hundred pound guy when he puts all his weight on one pedal generates 100 foot pounds of torque because there are 100 pounds applied to the end of a 1 foot lever mounted on a crank.

The 200 pound guy all else being equal generates 200 pounds of torque.

If they both can churn out the same RPM for the same amount of time the 200 pound guy will generate twice the power of the 100 pound guy. BUT if the 100 pound guy has some 2 to 1 gearing he can rotate the crank at twice the RPM as the 200 pound guy they will produce the same amount of power.

Now is there any advantage to the 100 pound lower torque higher RPM method? Yes because the powerplant is lighter there is less weight to propel, turn and stop.

Just an easy way to visualize what it is all about.

 

Bieg, great explinaiton, but not as funny as Silver Bullet's


Mike

i'll use the second to explain it from now on