The foot-pound per second is an intriguing unit of power that encapsulates the essence of energy transfer in mechanical systems. A single foot-pound per second equates to the rate at which one pound-force transfers energy across a distance of one foot in a second. Lesser-known than its metric counterpart, the watt, foot-pound per second offers insight into the blend of force, distance, and time that’s crucial to understanding mechanical work.
Interestingly, the unit serves as a bridge between imperial and metric systems, with one foot-pound per second equivalent to approximately 1.3558 watts. This conversion showcases the interconnectedness of diverse measurement systems. The unit highlights the ingenuity of early inventors and engineers like James Watt, whose advancements in engine technology continue to influence how we conceptualize power and efficiency today.
Horsepower is a unit of power that originated in the 18th century, coined by engineer James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. A fascinating aspect is the value assigned to this measurement: 1 British horsepower equals approximately 745.7 watts. To put this into perspective, this means that just one horsepower can light up more than ten 60-watt light bulbs!
Interestingly, the unit became widely adopted not for its precision but as a marketing tool. Since people were familiar with the strength of horses in everyday tasks, comparing engine power to horses made industrial power even more relatable and understandable during the Industrial Revolution. Today, horsepower continues to be an essential metric in the automotive and engine industries worldwide, despite its equine origins.
| Foot-pounds per second | Horsepower (British) |
|---|---|
0
ft-lb/s
|
0
hp
|
100
ft-lb/s
|
0.181818
hp
|
200
ft-lb/s
|
0.363636
hp
|
300
ft-lb/s
|
0.545455
hp
|
400
ft-lb/s
|
0.727273
hp
|
500
ft-lb/s
|
0.909091
hp
|
600
ft-lb/s
|
1.09091
hp
|
700
ft-lb/s
|
1.27273
hp
|
800
ft-lb/s
|
1.45455
hp
|
900
ft-lb/s
|
1.63636
hp
|
1000
ft-lb/s
|
1.81818
hp
|
1100
ft-lb/s
|
2
hp
|
1200
ft-lb/s
|
2.18182
hp
|
1300
ft-lb/s
|
2.36364
hp
|
1400
ft-lb/s
|
2.54545
hp
|
1500
ft-lb/s
|
2.72727
hp
|
1600
ft-lb/s
|
2.90909
hp
|
1700
ft-lb/s
|
3.09091
hp
|
1800
ft-lb/s
|
3.27273
hp
|
1900
ft-lb/s
|
3.45455
hp
|
2000
ft-lb/s
|
3.63636
hp
|
2100
ft-lb/s
|
3.81818
hp
|
2200
ft-lb/s
|
4
hp
|
2300
ft-lb/s
|
4.18182
hp
|
2400
ft-lb/s
|
4.36364
hp
|
2500
ft-lb/s
|
4.54545
hp
|
2600
ft-lb/s
|
4.72727
hp
|
2700
ft-lb/s
|
4.90909
hp
|
2800
ft-lb/s
|
5.09091
hp
|
2900
ft-lb/s
|
5.27273
hp
|
3000
ft-lb/s
|
5.45455
hp
|
3100
ft-lb/s
|
5.63636
hp
|
3200
ft-lb/s
|
5.81818
hp
|
3300
ft-lb/s
|
6
hp
|
3400
ft-lb/s
|
6.18182
hp
|
3500
ft-lb/s
|
6.36364
hp
|
3600
ft-lb/s
|
6.54545
hp
|
3700
ft-lb/s
|
6.72727
hp
|
3800
ft-lb/s
|
6.90909
hp
|
3900
ft-lb/s
|
7.09091
hp
|
4000
ft-lb/s
|
7.27273
hp
|
4100
ft-lb/s
|
7.45455
hp
|
4200
ft-lb/s
|
7.63636
hp
|
4300
ft-lb/s
|
7.81818
hp
|
4400
ft-lb/s
|
8
hp
|
4500
ft-lb/s
|
8.18182
hp
|
4600
ft-lb/s
|
8.36364
hp
|
4700
ft-lb/s
|
8.54545
hp
|
4800
ft-lb/s
|
8.72727
hp
|
4900
ft-lb/s
|
8.90909
hp
|
5000
ft-lb/s
|
9.09091
hp
|
5100
ft-lb/s
|
9.27273
hp
|
5200
ft-lb/s
|
9.45455
hp
|
5300
ft-lb/s
|
9.63636
hp
|
5400
ft-lb/s
|
9.81818
hp
|
5500
ft-lb/s
|
10
hp
|
5600
ft-lb/s
|
10.18182
hp
|
5700
ft-lb/s
|
10.36364
hp
|
5800
ft-lb/s
|
10.54545
hp
|
5900
ft-lb/s
|
10.72727
hp
|
6000
ft-lb/s
|
10.90909
hp
|
6100
ft-lb/s
|
11.09091
hp
|
6200
ft-lb/s
|
11.27273
hp
|
6300
ft-lb/s
|
11.45455
hp
|
6400
ft-lb/s
|
11.63636
hp
|
6500
ft-lb/s
|
11.81818
hp
|
6600
ft-lb/s
|
12
hp
|
6700
ft-lb/s
|
12.18182
hp
|
6800
ft-lb/s
|
12.36364
hp
|
6900
ft-lb/s
|
12.54545
hp
|
7000
ft-lb/s
|
12.72727
hp
|
7100
ft-lb/s
|
12.90909
hp
|
7200
ft-lb/s
|
13.09091
hp
|
7300
ft-lb/s
|
13.27273
hp
|
7400
ft-lb/s
|
13.45455
hp
|
7500
ft-lb/s
|
13.63636
hp
|
7600
ft-lb/s
|
13.81818
hp
|
7700
ft-lb/s
|
14
hp
|
7800
ft-lb/s
|
14.18182
hp
|
7900
ft-lb/s
|
14.36364
hp
|
8000
ft-lb/s
|
14.54545
hp
|
8100
ft-lb/s
|
14.72727
hp
|
8200
ft-lb/s
|
14.90909
hp
|
8300
ft-lb/s
|
15.09091
hp
|
8400
ft-lb/s
|
15.27273
hp
|
8500
ft-lb/s
|
15.45455
hp
|
8600
ft-lb/s
|
15.63636
hp
|
8700
ft-lb/s
|
15.81818
hp
|
8800
ft-lb/s
|
16
hp
|
8900
ft-lb/s
|
16.18182
hp
|
9000
ft-lb/s
|
16.36364
hp
|
9100
ft-lb/s
|
16.54545
hp
|
9200
ft-lb/s
|
16.72727
hp
|
9300
ft-lb/s
|
16.90909
hp
|
9400
ft-lb/s
|
17.09091
hp
|
9500
ft-lb/s
|
17.27273
hp
|
9600
ft-lb/s
|
17.45455
hp
|
9700
ft-lb/s
|
17.63636
hp
|
9800
ft-lb/s
|
17.81818
hp
|
9900
ft-lb/s
|
18
hp
|
10000
ft-lb/s
|
18.18182
hp
|
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