Today I learned the metric equivalent of horsepower is, horsepower. You’d think someone would have come up with a better name.
Today I learned the metric equivalent of horsepower is, horsepower. You’d think someone would have come up with a better name.
15 Comments
Nomecks@lemmy.ca · 42 pts · 301d
The metric equivalent, if you're talking about how it's measured in places like Europe, is kilowatts.
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 19 pts · 301d
You're right, yet there are two definitions of the horse power, the imperial
1 hp ≈ 745.7 Wand the metric1 hp = 735.49875 W. The latter is usually given in its local name, e.g. as PS, cv, … etc., while the imperial is usually hp independent of the language of the document.As you said, in Europe, quantifying the power of a machine (e.g. a car) in horse powers is supplementary only and thus, does not suffice on its own, the data must always be given in kW.
B0rax@feddit.org · 5 pts · 301d
Yet somehow people still use PS or horsepower in everyday language. At least in Germany.
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 3 pts · 301d
One reason is probably that the power in PS is a 36 % larger number than in kW.
EpicFailGuy@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 300d
to further complicate things ... we also use:
and a few others (when talking about vehicles at least)
We're a mess
aeronmelon@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 301d
As far as arbitrary units of measurement go, horsepower and candlepower at least sound cool.
BussyCat@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 300d
I had not heard of candle power before but foot-candles always gets a chuckle out of me for ridiculous name
Krudler@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 301d
HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 10 pts · 301d
Watts
blaue_Fledermaus@mstdn.io · 8 pts · 301d
In Portuguese it's called steam-horse (cavalo-vapor)
quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 301d
It's the same in Spanish and Catalan
mitram2@lemmy.pt · 3 pts · 301d
Never heard of anyone using it. Is it mostly used by technicians?
blaue_Fledermaus@mstdn.io · 4 pts · 301d
I think I only heard/read it once or twice, but yes, I think most shorten it to just cavalos
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 3 pts · 301d
How are cars advertised in Portugal? In Germany, Pferdestärken (PS) is commonly used.
mitram2@lemmy.pt · 6 pts · 301d
In Portugal, we usually just say "Cavalos" (horses)
Pferd is horse, right? What is "stärken"?
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 5 pts · 301d
Yes, Stärke means strength (could also mean starch, but not in this case), Stärken here is (Dative case) plural.