Why do you need more than one horsepower to move a single person from A to B? If one horsepower is equivalent to the power of one horse, then a galloping horse will get you there faster than your average moped.
Real answer: Horsepower originates from the potential sustained work of a (more-or-less) average horse of the 18th century. A horse at full speed is outputting more-than-one-horsepower - at a gallop, they’re outputting 10 horsepower or more.
I just went down a rabbit hole as a result of your reply. Thank you!
The horsepower was defined by James Watt as a way to compare his steam engines against draft horses. The unit of power in use today is Watt and is named after him.
Why do you need more than one horsepower to move a single person from A to B? If one horsepower is equivalent to the power of one horse, then a galloping horse will get you there faster than your average moped.
A horse is about 14 horsepower.
Joke answer: Style
Real answer: Horsepower originates from the potential sustained work of a (more-or-less) average horse of the 18th century. A horse at full speed is outputting more-than-one-horsepower - at a gallop, they’re outputting 10 horsepower or more.
Hmm … style over substance 😇
I just went down a rabbit hole as a result of your reply. Thank you!
The horsepower was defined by James Watt as a way to compare his steam engines against draft horses. The unit of power in use today is Watt and is named after him.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
For a giggle, if you’re into SI units, look at the definition of a horsepower.