Human Horse Power
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Post Fiend
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Human Horse Power
Anyone know how much horse power the average human generates?
I remember reading something about this 30 years ago.
Supposedly less than 1/4 hp.
Anyone know or have an opinion?
I remember reading something about this 30 years ago.
Supposedly less than 1/4 hp.
Anyone know or have an opinion?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Pleasant Hill, MO
no, no, no... we did an experiment in 7th grade. we ran up the stairs, it was pre-measured how far to run, timed, and done according to body weight. I got somewhere around 7 horsepower as a 7th grader. I'm gonna say average male is 12-14 horsepower. Remember, we're not geared. Also, my science teacher may have been full of balogna.
Ryan
Ryan
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
you seriously think you could do the work of 7 horses huh?
1 hp = 33,000 foot-pounds of work in one minute. so if you can produce 7 hp, then you can move 231,000 pounds 1 foot every minute? Or how 'bout the other way, you can move 1 pound 43.75 miles every minute?
Or in easier terms, move 231 lbs, 1000 feet every minute?
I think your science teacher was a little off, but then I maybe wrong too.
1 hp = 33,000 foot-pounds of work in one minute. so if you can produce 7 hp, then you can move 231,000 pounds 1 foot every minute? Or how 'bout the other way, you can move 1 pound 43.75 miles every minute?
Or in easier terms, move 231 lbs, 1000 feet every minute?
I think your science teacher was a little off, but then I maybe wrong too.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
I just checked out horsepower on the site below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
Very interesting.
pitrow, I think you hit it on the mark. More (horse) power to you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
Very interesting.
pitrow, I think you hit it on the mark. More (horse) power to you.
Last edited by sierraben; Jul 28, 2005 at 06:13 PM.
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From: Southern MD
I don't know about horsepower. . . . but, I've been told that I am one jack*** (donkey). (Ha. That was by my wife!)
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Postmaster
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From: So Cal
I forget for sure, but I think the human that made the first human powered flight over the English Channel had to sustain something like 1/3 to 1/2 hp for the duration of the flight, more than 1 hour. from...
http://www.teamicarus.com/index.php?...=43&Itemid=125
Under the strain of simultaneously pedaling and controlling a human powered aircraft (HPA), a physically fit man can sustain an output of 0.3 to 0.5 horsepower for prolonged periods of time.
and...
Two records were set; a straight line record of 22 miles and a duration record of two hours and forty-nine minutes.
So I would assume someone in excellent shape can do more in a burst but less sustained.
I didn't read the wikipedia article but I assume hp is assumed to be the sustained rate, not the short burst of speed rate. So I would bet a horse can sustain 1hp far longer than a human and that they could have a higher burst rating than a human.
Hard to believe it has been almost 30 years since they did that.
Jim Henderson
http://www.teamicarus.com/index.php?...=43&Itemid=125
Under the strain of simultaneously pedaling and controlling a human powered aircraft (HPA), a physically fit man can sustain an output of 0.3 to 0.5 horsepower for prolonged periods of time.
and...
Two records were set; a straight line record of 22 miles and a duration record of two hours and forty-nine minutes.
So I would assume someone in excellent shape can do more in a burst but less sustained.
I didn't read the wikipedia article but I assume hp is assumed to be the sustained rate, not the short burst of speed rate. So I would bet a horse can sustain 1hp far longer than a human and that they could have a higher burst rating than a human.
Hard to believe it has been almost 30 years since they did that.
Jim Henderson
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Post Fiend
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From: Montana Territory
Originally Posted by pitrow
Or in easier terms, move 231 lbs, 1000 feet every minute?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Bored town OH
Originally Posted by sierraben
Now I also read this fact about 30 years ago that the average horse is about 30 hp.
Just thought I'd throw that in for ha ha's.
Just thought I'd throw that in for ha ha's.
thats good news, my 4.9l actaully has 4350 horsepower! thats way better than 145 hp! I'm wondering how much one of them "worlds strongest man" contenders can put out in horse power. I did see one of their things on TV, and they had a rope wrapped around their waist, and they pulled a semi truck a certain distance in a certain time. If you've watched that worlds strongest man competition on TV, you prolly know what I'm talking about.
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Originally Posted by Matts72
So if I weigh 231 pounds, and run a 5 minute mile, thats 7 hp? I can run a 5 minute mile...and I weigh just under 215...
Most couch potato people probably can't generate 1/8HP or even 1/16HP.
