torque and horsepower
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Metro Boston
torque = force
force x distance = work
work x time = power
power =horsepower(concerning this topic)
With a 10 foot wrench and a 450 lb squat, I can generate 4500 lb-ft of torque on a lugnut.
For the purposes of determining how fast your car is going to accelerate, torque numbers alone don't mean a thing. Horsepower is a much better indicator of your car's performance because horsepower takes into account the work done by the engine over a period of time. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother always quotes peak horsepower numbers. That's great, but peak numbers don't describe how the engine will perform over its entire powerband.
torque x engine rpm = horsepower
A graph showing the engine's torque and horsepower curves will be a much better indicator of performance. You'll see the available horsepower over the entire operating range of the engine. Even with low torque, you could spin the engine so fast(like a 30,000rpm turbine) that the engine would still be capable of enormous power generation. And that power would move the car quite fast.
Back to the original question:
Torque is a static force and horsepower is a measure of that force doing work over time.
force x distance = work
work x time = power
power =horsepower(concerning this topic)
With a 10 foot wrench and a 450 lb squat, I can generate 4500 lb-ft of torque on a lugnut.
For the purposes of determining how fast your car is going to accelerate, torque numbers alone don't mean a thing. Horsepower is a much better indicator of your car's performance because horsepower takes into account the work done by the engine over a period of time. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother always quotes peak horsepower numbers. That's great, but peak numbers don't describe how the engine will perform over its entire powerband.
torque x engine rpm = horsepower
A graph showing the engine's torque and horsepower curves will be a much better indicator of performance. You'll see the available horsepower over the entire operating range of the engine. Even with low torque, you could spin the engine so fast(like a 30,000rpm turbine) that the engine would still be capable of enormous power generation. And that power would move the car quite fast.
Back to the original question:
Torque is a static force and horsepower is a measure of that force doing work over time.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Grand Prairrie
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Incubus
[B]So you're saying that if a mustang's rev limiter was simply raised, then it would have more horsepower than it currently has?
I am implying that if the torque peak is at a high RPM, then the horsepower is high.(If the torque peak is at a low RPM, then the horsepower is low)
[B]So you're saying that if a mustang's rev limiter was simply raised, then it would have more horsepower than it currently has?
I am implying that if the torque peak is at a high RPM, then the horsepower is high.(If the torque peak is at a low RPM, then the horsepower is low)
Joined: Oct 2001
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It's all relative homey. It has just as much, and even more HP, but not relative to its huge amount of torque.
If the GT made just as much torque at 7500 RPM (like the S2000), then it would be a monster because it can accelerate just as fast, but for a longer period of time. Or it could have much lower gears, but then you'd be shifting every second. Torque drops off after it's peak(obviously), so if the peak is at a low RPM then tall gears are necessary. With tall gears, the engine just has to be big, or have more torque to make up for the fact that there is not as much RELATIVE HP.
I think we have all read the same piece of info somewhere, but we are just aren't phrasing it the same way. This is the case for me at least. However I do believe I have the understanding part down.
If the GT made just as much torque at 7500 RPM (like the S2000), then it would be a monster because it can accelerate just as fast, but for a longer period of time. Or it could have much lower gears, but then you'd be shifting every second. Torque drops off after it's peak(obviously), so if the peak is at a low RPM then tall gears are necessary. With tall gears, the engine just has to be big, or have more torque to make up for the fact that there is not as much RELATIVE HP.
I think we have all read the same piece of info somewhere, but we are just aren't phrasing it the same way. This is the case for me at least. However I do believe I have the understanding part down.
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