Hp vs. Torque
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 67
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Hp vs. Torque
I know this might be a stupid question, but what's the difference between horsepower and torque? I know torque is what gets you moving, but what is horsepower then? Would horsepower be what lets you pass people on the highway? Or is it what gets you through the 1/4 in 10 seconds???? I'm confused!!!! Help me!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Hp vs. Torque
Basically, torque the product of force X distance, and horsepower is power and you can have one with out the other.
Torque is the ability to move something, power is how fast you can move it.
Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more.
RCC
Torque is the ability to move something, power is how fast you can move it.
Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more.
RCC
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Hp vs. Torque
Torque does the work and horsepower is the speed at which the work gets done. Horsepower is derrived from torque in the following relation:
Horsepower = torque * RPM / 5250
Thus you can see that an engine like the 300 I6, though it has pretty high torque (265 @ 2000 RPM), the horsepower is pretty low. It will do the work but it will take some time to get up to speed. My F150 300 I6 and my wife's 3.0 v6 Aerostar both have the same horsepower, so they both accelerate about the same (actually the Aero is a bit quicker as it weighs less), but the F150 can haul a much heavier load as it has 265 ft. lbs. torque, vs the Aerostars 165.
Horsepower = torque * RPM / 5250
Thus you can see that an engine like the 300 I6, though it has pretty high torque (265 @ 2000 RPM), the horsepower is pretty low. It will do the work but it will take some time to get up to speed. My F150 300 I6 and my wife's 3.0 v6 Aerostar both have the same horsepower, so they both accelerate about the same (actually the Aero is a bit quicker as it weighs less), but the F150 can haul a much heavier load as it has 265 ft. lbs. torque, vs the Aerostars 165.
