What Do Horsepower and Torque Mean?

[DiTaylor]

Horsepower refers to the amount of work a car can perform per unit of time, determining the vehicle's maximum speed. Torque refers to the reciprocating motion of pistons within the cylinders, where each cycle performs a certain amount of work, representing the force that causes an object to rotate or have a tendency to rotate. Cars rely on the rotation of the driveshaft to output power. Regardless of the tire size, friction must be generated against the ground, and torque is used to measure the driving force of the car. Horsepower equals torque multiplied by speed, symbolizing the amount of air-fuel mixture the engine can intake per unit of time. As the throttle is increased, the engine speed gradually rises to the point of maximum torque, where the intake volume reaches its peak. Since the speed continues to increase, the number of intake cycles also increases, allowing horsepower to continue rising until it reaches the maximum horsepower point.