When gasoline is burned in the cylinder of an engine, it creates a high pressure that pushes on the piston. If the pressure is 150 pound-force per square inch, and it moves the 3-inch diameter piston a distance of 6 centimeters in 0.1 seconds, how much horsepower does this action produce?

Question

When gasoline is burned in the cylinder of an​ engine, it creates a high pressure that pushes on the piston. If the pressure is 150 ​pound-force per square​ inch, and it moves the 3​-inch diameter piston a distance of 6 centimeters in 0.1 ​seconds, how much horsepower does this action​ produce?

Steve · Answer

Power = Work/time = Force*distance/time The force, of course, is pressure*area Now just put things into the proper units and it all falls out.