
Power is a word used in many different contexts. One common setting for its use is the automotive industry, where horsepower is its main unit. Horsepower is the quantity of force or work an engine can produce over time. Because engines vary considerably in size, application and fuel type, horsepower provides a useful comparison between them. Whether measuring diesel performance in a freight truck or the high performance of race car engines, horsepower is a common denominator.
How Does an Engine Produce Power?
Internal combustion engines convert the potential energy contained in a combustible fuel into mechanical energy to turn the wheels of a vehicle. This is accomplished by a rapid coordinated series of controlled explosions within a set of closed cylinders. At one end of this tube is a movable piston that is linked to the drive shaft of the vehicle. When the proper fuel and air mixture is …