How Do You Calculate HP From Torque?
To understand how to calculate horsepower (HP) from torque, it is necessary to first understand what torque and horsepower are. Horsepower, as detailed in the Columbia Encyclopedia, is a unit of power “equal to 33,000 foot-pounds per minute.” The term horsepower originated with James Watt, who calculated the work one horse could do in an hour to compare to new steam engines of his day. Torque, as defined by the Columbia Encyclopedia, is a directional force that measures the useful work ability of an engine. The calculation to convert torque into horsepower is simple: HP= [(Torque x Revolutions Per Minute) / 5,252] The revolutions per minute (RPMs) of the engine must be known. The RPMs are multiplied by the torque of the engine and divided by 5,252, a constant. The result is the HP of the engine.
