What makes an engine torque

If you want to keep it old school you can measure distance in feet, and force in pounds. If an engine produces Nm of torque, we can use a similar visualisation in reverse to help understand the forces involved. To stop such an engine from turning would require a one metre long spanner attached to the crankshaft, with a Newton force applied at the other end.

As one kilogram exerts a force of roughly 9. Or Allan McNish. This means that if you compare two engines with different torque outputs, the higher torque motor will always make more horsepower at any given engine speed. However, many high torque engines are not built to rev that highly think of a punchy diesel , so ultimate power figures are often compromised.

In contrast, a high-revving petrol sports car may be engineered to have a lower torque figure, but its extreme power delivery at high engine speeds allows it to go faster. Can you explain torque in 25 words or less? Have a go in the comments section below Brand loyalty evaporates as car demand hits all-time high. Work is the result of a force acting over some distance. The U. In the International System SI , work is measured in joules and, in rare instances, newton-meters.

The more torque an engine produces, the greater its ability to perform work. The measurement is the same as work, but slightly different. In this case the distinction is static torque, the kind you apply with a wrench to tighten head bolts. To avoid confusion, the units for static torque are traditionally foot-pounds. Just to be contrary, SI sticks with newton-meters for both static and dynamic torque measurements.

Power is how rapidly work is accomplished. Eighteenth-century Scottish inventor James Watt gave us this handy equivalency: one horsepower is the power required to lift 33, pounds exactly one foot in one minute. Honoring that contribution, the SI measurement unit for power is the kilowatt. In other words, power is the rate of completing work or applying torque in a given amount of time. For the third year in a row, a RAM truck has won the award for MotorTrend Truck of the Year, letting the world know—as well as its competition—that they know a thing or 2 when it comes to game-changing performance from a truck.

Find out more. For instance, the greater the horsepower an engine produces, the higher the torque potential. This explains why a race car and a tractor that have the same amount of horsepower can vary so drastically. In a race car, all the torque is used for speed through the gearing, whereas the tractor converts the horsepower into pushing and pulling extremely heavy weights.

Another way to understand horsepower vs. When you are using all your strength to open the jar, you are applying torque—regardless of whether or not the cap comes off. Horsepower, however, only exists with movement.

Electric motors are torque superstars, since they provide their full torque output instantly. How do aerodynamics affect fuel efficiency? Find a New Dealer. New Search. Find Near Me. Enter a Postal Code. We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please wait a few minutes and then try again.

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