How many foot-pounds per minute is equal to 1 horsepower?

One horsepower is defined as the ability to do work at a rate of 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. This measure originates from early mechanical engineering and horse-powered machinery, where it was established that a horse could turn a mill wheel with a force equivalent to this amount of work over time.

To understand the significance, envision what is happening: If a machine or engine can continuously lift a weight of 33,000 pounds over a vertical height of one foot in one minute, it is demonstrating one horsepower in terms of power output. Therefore, when considering measures of mechanical power, the value of 33,000 foot-pounds per minute is widely accepted as the standard definition of horsepower, making it the correct answer for the equivalency to horsepower. This high number reflects the considerable amount of power capable of being generated by various machines and engines in processes such as lifting, moving or any work-related applications.