Power Converter Tool
Power
Conversion
In physics, power is the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit time. In the International System of Units, the unit of power is the watt, equal to one joule per second.
Power Units Explained
- Watt (W): The SI unit of power. One watt is the rate at which work is done when an object is moved at a speed of one meter per second against a force of one newton.
- Kilowatt (kW): Equal to 1,000 watts. Commonly used to express the power output of engines and the power consumption of tools and machines.
- Horsepower (hp): A unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. One mechanical horsepower is roughly 745.7 watts.
- BTU/hour: A British Thermal Unit per hour is a unit of power often used in heating and air conditioning (HVAC).
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Fun Fact: James Watt coined the term “horsepower” to market his steam engines. He determined that a pony could lift 220 pounds 100 feet in a minute, increased that by 50% to ensure his engines over-delivered, and defined 1 horsepower as 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. In reality, a horse can peak at nearly 15 horsepower for short bursts!