Horsepower why 5252

The tool for this task is an engine dynamometer. Eddy current dynamometers use a magnetic field to transfer torque from the spinning crankshaft to a lever arm bearing against a static force gauge known as a load cell spaced a precise distance from the center of the crank.

The perfect engine produces ample torque at low rpm and sustains that output to the redline. The amount of torque produced is directly proportional to the air flowing through the engine. Large engines pump more air and, therefore, produce more torque.

Boosters—superchargers, turbochargers—deliver additional air to help small engines act large. Making up for the ease of injecting the right amount of fuel, engine designers face several difficult tasks. Cooling and lubrication needs are roughly proportional to the power produced. And pumping air into, through, and out of any engine at ultra-high rpm is where engineering becomes an art form.

But what about the greater moral issue confronting mankind in general and car enthusiasts in particular: Which is better? In a baseball game, if torque is analogous to the catcher, then horsepower is the pitcher. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Future Cars Worth Waiting For: — Waymo-Uber court battle gets underway over self-driving car technologies. Share This Article:. Follow Us Today:. Stephen Edelstein - Contributing Writer.

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