What does torque actually measure?
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What does torque actually measure?
What does torque actually measure? The scientific definition of torque is a force at a distant causing a rotation. The only place I could see this definition fitting is either with regards to the gear within the transmission or with regards to your wheels themselves? So which is it (or is it something else entirely?) Thanks.
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And while you're at it can someone cover "horsepower" at the same time.
I've always heard the phrase "torque gets you there, horsepower keeps you there". Presumably this phrase means that torque is what gets you off the line fast .
Stephen
I've always heard the phrase "torque gets you there, horsepower keeps you there". Presumably this phrase means that torque is what gets you off the line fast .
Stephen
definition from howstuffworks.com
Borrowed this from Howstuffworks.com
Torque
Imagine that you have a big socket wrench with a 2-foot-long handle on it, and you apply 50 pounds of force to that 2-foot handle. What you are doing is applying a torque, or turning force, of 100 pound-feet (50 pounds to a 2-foot-long handle) to the bolt. You could get the same 100 pound-feet of torque by applying 1 pound of force to the end of a 100-foot handle or 100 pounds of force to a 1-foot handle.
Similarly, if you attach a shaft to an engine, the engine can apply torque to the shaft. A dynamometer measures this torque. You can easily convert torque to horsepower by multiplying torque by rpm/5,252.
Torque
Imagine that you have a big socket wrench with a 2-foot-long handle on it, and you apply 50 pounds of force to that 2-foot handle. What you are doing is applying a torque, or turning force, of 100 pound-feet (50 pounds to a 2-foot-long handle) to the bolt. You could get the same 100 pound-feet of torque by applying 1 pound of force to the end of a 100-foot handle or 100 pounds of force to a 1-foot handle.
Similarly, if you attach a shaft to an engine, the engine can apply torque to the shaft. A dynamometer measures this torque. You can easily convert torque to horsepower by multiplying torque by rpm/5,252.
Last edited by HobieKopek; Jul 9, 2002 at 08:00 PM.
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Those two links above are great! Lot of info
When judging the performance between two cars, I never used horsepower figures. Torque was always my main concern. For instance, if you look at the new Acura RSX and the 4G63 Eclipse, they both have similar horsepower figures. RSX - 200HP, Eclipse 210HP. But the two of them do not come close to acclerating the same. The Eclipse would smoke the RSX even though it is heavier and has only 10 more horsepower. Why??
TORQUE is king. It's what snaps your neck back when you punch it. The RSX has 141ftlbs while the Eclipse had 214ftlbs. Not even close.
Jeff
When judging the performance between two cars, I never used horsepower figures. Torque was always my main concern. For instance, if you look at the new Acura RSX and the 4G63 Eclipse, they both have similar horsepower figures. RSX - 200HP, Eclipse 210HP. But the two of them do not come close to acclerating the same. The Eclipse would smoke the RSX even though it is heavier and has only 10 more horsepower. Why??
TORQUE is king. It's what snaps your neck back when you punch it. The RSX has 141ftlbs while the Eclipse had 214ftlbs. Not even close.Jeff
Power is the king, torque vastly improve engine feel. The difference is the RSX Type-S weighs 2767 and the 1998 Eclipse weighs 2970. So the Eclipse is close to 200 lbs heavier. The RSX also has a much peakier powerband.
If torque was the king we would all be driving diesels.
Also by looking at torque at a certain RPM that is in effect the definition of power. Put in another way if two cars have the equal torque at a specific RPM Then they also have the same power at that RPM. So by building for torque you also get increased power. Now if you reduce top end power in the pursuit of low end torque you reduce timed acceleration if not feel.
Erik
If torque was the king we would all be driving diesels.
Also by looking at torque at a certain RPM that is in effect the definition of power. Put in another way if two cars have the equal torque at a specific RPM Then they also have the same power at that RPM. So by building for torque you also get increased power. Now if you reduce top end power in the pursuit of low end torque you reduce timed acceleration if not feel.
Erik
Last edited by erikgj; Jul 11, 2002 at 01:12 AM.
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Originally posted by erikgj
If torque was the king we would all be driving diesels.
Erik
If torque was the king we would all be driving diesels.
Erik
You made some good points, but your comment on the diesels is a little off. There are different reasons why we don't drive diesels. The most important is because of emmisions. You cannot ignite fuel super clean with a diesel because it ignites due to compression instead of an ECU timed and controlled spark. The other reason is that diesels are just too noisy.
Jeff
My point is that if Torque were the chief determinant of acceleration than you would see development off high torque motors. Diesels are the just ultimate expression of the torque vs. HP trade off. I'm not suggesting that anyone should drive a diesel. Europe BTW, is now buying 40% diesels.
Erik
Erik
