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Engine Torque Formula:
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Engine torque is the rotational force produced by an engine, measured in pound-feet (lb-ft) or Newton-meters (Nm). It represents the engine's ability to do work and is a crucial parameter in determining vehicle performance, acceleration, and towing capacity.
The calculator uses the fundamental torque formula:
Where:
Explanation: The constant 5252 comes from the definition of horsepower where 1 horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second, and there are 60 seconds in a minute divided by 2π radians per revolution.
Details: Understanding engine torque is essential for vehicle design, performance tuning, transmission selection, and determining the engine's pulling power. Torque affects how quickly a vehicle can accelerate and its ability to handle heavy loads.
Tips: Enter horsepower and RPM values. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the corresponding torque output in lb-ft.
Q1: Why is 5252 the magic number in torque calculations?
A: 5252 is derived from the mathematical relationship between horsepower and torque. At 5252 RPM, horsepower and torque values are always equal in the imperial system.
Q2: What's the difference between horsepower and torque?
A: Torque is the rotational force, while horsepower is the rate at which work is done. Horsepower = (Torque × RPM) / 5252.
Q3: What is a good torque value for an engine?
A: This varies by application. Passenger cars typically range from 100-400 lb-ft, while heavy-duty trucks can exceed 1000 lb-ft. Higher torque generally means better low-end acceleration.
Q4: How does torque affect fuel efficiency?
A: Engines that produce more torque at lower RPMs tend to be more fuel-efficient because they don't need to work as hard to maintain speed or accelerate.
Q5: Can I convert lb-ft to Nm?
A: Yes, 1 lb-ft = 1.35582 Nm. Multiply lb-ft by 1.35582 to get Newton-meters.