Horsepower
The horsepower is a unit of power measurement, originally coined by inventor James Watt in order to describe the amount of work that a powerful draft horse could perform in a single second. As an internationally recognized standard of measurement, one horsepower is equivalent to a total of 550 foot-pounds per second, or alternatively 33,000 foot-pounds per minute.
Whether utilized in the automotive industry, the world of manufacturing, or in other trades that require the use of machinery and power tools, horsepower remains a critical unit of measurement to calculate an engine’s ability to perform work. In addition, as a unit of measurement for engines, it serves as an important reference point for determining the amount of power necessary to drive vehicles, machinery, and equipment.
« Back to Glossary Index