Horsepower vs Torque - A Simple Explanation

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Anonymous

Well that’s one of my childhood curiosities.

01/17/2018 - 15:25 |
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Martin Burns

So the first car is faster “assuming all is the same” …..but it’s also stated it needs a more aggressive gear ratio to manipulate torque to do the same work potential? Genuinely confused haha

But to me it sounds like a 10 speed automatic (Because 10 manual is… absurd) with less torque but more power would be faster than a 6 or 8 speed manual with less power but more torque IF it had a more advantageous gear ratio. So to me it seems like although the more powerful car would technically be faster, the car with more torque would feel stronger?

Science help!!

01/17/2018 - 16:23 |
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I think you are getting confused with gearing (I struggled with this myself)
Torque = Force X Distance
Power = Torque X Time(RPM)
If you increase the length of the gear ratio it will turn torque into power because you will be increasing the time spent in that gear. It will feel like there is less torque but it will pull for longer and therefore have more HP.
If I understand that correctly that might be the science why Honda’s have less torque but have decent HP because they can rev so high. They spend more time using the “low” torque and can therefore create decent HP. So reving higher or having long gear ratios helps increase HP.
At least that’s how I understand it.

01/17/2018 - 16:57 |
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AX53

Torque is generally at least somewhat associated with the size of the engine. An easy way to think abiout it is

4L engine at 4000rpm vs
2L engine at 8000rpm.

Momentarily the 4L engine is larger, but extending in the dimension of time, the smaller engine makes up for its smaller capacity by cycling trough it’s volume twice the amount of times in the same time-period.

01/17/2018 - 19:50 |
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Sakuzwan

In reply to by AX53

I’m sure you have heard this before, but engine is a giant air pump. Bigger engine displacement, forced induction and faster rpm all make more air pass trough.

01/19/2018 - 07:27 |
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DL🏁

Thats why when looking at an engine stats, you should be looking at two things:

  1. Peak Power
  2. The Torque Curve (the more torque low down, the better)

Peak torque is pretty much irrelevant if peak power is satisfactory

01/17/2018 - 20:34 |
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Anonymous

I think most of worlds petrolheads will agree that this is a topic that is to be left alone, for sake of our mental health.

01/17/2018 - 21:13 |
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Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Haha - that made me laugh! It’s definitely not a simple subject and stirs up a lot of confusion online.

01/17/2018 - 21:59 |
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Duggan (koalafan) (koalafan7) (Esprit Team) (Z32 Group) (Lot

What I’m wondering is in one of the last shots h small LEGO car (pull back car) drives off. I didn’t send string or his hand pulling it back. I thought it was my mistake and not a pull back (but I’m pretty sure it is) and it was reversed footage of it rolling backwards. I want to know how it was done

01/18/2018 - 05:16 |
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BoostAddict 1

I feel like some of this is wrong. If the only thing that determines how fast a car accelerates is horsepower then why do we measure torque figures? I know torque is important, so I’m confused.

01/18/2018 - 13:02 |
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Well as i see it, torque is just a way you use your power if i might say that

01/18/2018 - 19:29 |
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Anonymous

Enter your comment…

01/20/2018 - 18:47 |
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Anonymous

So many comments spread around here and on YouTube, could facepalm for hours. How do people not understand torque and horsepower?

06/13/2018 - 23:46 |
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