- A complex physics formula for torque (credit-NASA)

Torque to me

See what I did there

4y ago
1.9K

Contrary to what the header image says, this article is not about the physics of torque but more about its practical applications, especially in cars.

Since I noticed in the profile picture for this tribe there is a question on what toque is, I decided to do some research and jot down my finding in this article, hope it helps!

Currently I have two posters that adorn my bedroom wall, one is of the 2017 Lamborghini Aventador S and one is of the 2017 Aston Martin DB11. I only hung these up last weekend and after staring at them yesterday I realized something wasn't right. The DB11 has 700Nm of torque from a 6.2 litre twin turbo V12 while the Aventador S only manages to get 690Nm from its 6.5 litre V12. However, the Aventador can hit 100 km/hr a whole second faster than the Aston and it has a higher top speed. This got me wondering what really is the role of torque in a car? I may just have the answer to your question!

Horsepower is what you read, torque is what you feel

So first things first, what is horsepower? Horsepower of BHP/HP is the amount of energy required to move the cars weight a certain distance over a certain amount of time. So like 750BHP launches the 1575kg Aventador S from 0-100 in 2.9s (to make this a more accurate description we would need the amount of distance it took to reach this speed).

While torque is the amount of force required to move the car, it doesn't take into consideration the amount of time the car was moving or the distance moved. Basically horsepower comes from torque and it is the force that eventually causes the car to move.

However my question is what then separates these two cars, they both weight the same, the Lambo has 150 more bhp but has less torque than the Aston and the Lambo is also faster to 100 than the Aston? Maybe AWD helps the Aventador put more power to the ground?! I hope I have helped in answering a question that many car people want to know the answer too, let me know what you think in the comments and also if you agree or disagree with me!

www.edmunds.com/car-technology/the-twist-on-torque.html

scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/04/21/what-does-torque-in-a-car-do/

Join In

Comments (14)

  • Thanks for writing this now I have a bit better understanding of the concept of horsepower and torque now and gives me a better idea of how it relates to a car. This is how i sort of visualize it. Its like a top.. the kind with the handle you push down on. Torque is what it takes to push the handle down the more you push down on it the faster it goes, the horsepower is how fast the top spins. I can't do math to save my life at least the kind in physics.

      4 years ago
  • Thank you sooo much Matthew! I am now about half as confused as I was before (and that's saying something!) This is super helpful, and I will definitely have to remember this :)

      4 years ago
  • Incredibly interesting. Anyway, I must go now and get into my accounting studies. Which are not.

    (BTW, I was amused by your new profile pic.)

      4 years ago
    • Thanks ha ha, you're doing a bcom? Yes ha ha, there was an Aventador S at the launch event that I went to and I got to sit in there and I made sure to get a picture of it, I'm barely breaking a smile in the picture but inside I was so overwhelmed with joy...

      Read more
        4 years ago
    • No, certainly not. I'm finishing off Y12, and accounting happens to be the only thing between me and the end. Well, the end of the beginning.

      Actually sitting in the new Aventador S - I'd be grinning like a baboon too. And I'm sure the staff...

      Read more
        4 years ago
  • I hate to be that guy, but you have it backwards horsepower is calculated from torque. The difference between the two times comes from a mix of gearing and power loss from both the longer prop shaft and aero.

      4 years ago
  • *aubergine*

      4 years ago
14