Torque and Horsepower?

Question

Can someone please tell me in detail what is torque and what is horsepower? Also how can an engine produce more torque in the pistons at a lower rpm than high rpm? How is torque tested? How is horsepower the most at 7,000 rpm rather than maximum? Wouldn't the engine be able to handle more at a higher rpm? Basically i jus want a detailed explanation of torque and horsepower and how then engine produces more torque at lower rpm and higher horsepower not at the redline?

Answer 1

Torque is part of the basic specification of an engine: the power output of an engine is expressed as its torque multiplied by its rotational speed. Internal-combustion engines produce useful torque only over a limited range of rotational speeds (typically from around 1,000–6,000 rpm for a small car). The varying torque output over that range can be measured with a dynamometer, and shown as a torque curve. The peak of that torque curve usually occurs somewhat below the overall power peak. The torque peak cannot, by definition, appear at higher rpm than the power peak.

Understanding the relationship between torque, power and engine speed is vital in automotive engineering, concerned as it is with transmitting power from the engine through the drive train to the wheels. Typically power is a function of torque and engine speed. The gearing of the drive train must be chosen appropriately to make the most of the motor's torque characteristics


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/torque...
This explains it pretty good. Click the shortcut.