What does rpm on the car dashboard mean?

[OMartin]

RPM on the car dashboard refers to the engine's revolutions per minute. Generally, the faster the engine speed, the more power it can provide. The engine drives piston movement by burning air and gasoline, thereby rotating the crankshaft to provide power to the vehicle. This force converted to the crankshaft is called torque. The higher the RPM value, the more air and gasoline need to be burned, resulting in greater power. For drivers of manual transmission vehicles, RPM is one of the criteria for determining whether to shift gears. When the RPM is too low, it is necessary to downshift to obtain more power, while excessively high RPM can have adverse effects on the engine. The RPM value that produces maximum power varies depending on the engine. Generally, it is best to avoid the tachometer entering the red zone to prevent damage to the engine.