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Single conversion
To convert from Horsepower (British) (hp) to Megawatt (MW), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Watt (W) and Foot-pound per second (ft-lb/s).
Let's convert 5 Horsepower (British) (hp) to Megawatt (MW).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Horsepower (British) (hp) is equal to Megawatt (MW).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Horsepower (British) (hp) to Megawatt (MW):
| Horsepower (British) | Megawatts |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 hp | MW |
| 0.001 hp | MW |
| 0.1 hp | MW |
| 1 hp | MW |
| 2 hp | MW |
| 3 hp | MW |
| 4 hp | MW |
| 5 hp | MW |
| 6 hp | MW |
| 7 hp | MW |
| 8 hp | MW |
| 9 hp | MW |
| 10 hp | MW |
| 20 hp | MW |
| 30 hp | MW |
| 40 hp | MW |
| 50 hp | MW |
| 100 hp | MW |
| 1000 hp | MW |
| 10000 hp | MW |
British horsepower (hp) is a unit used to measure power, most commonly in the imperial system of measurement.
It was initially created to describe the amount of work a horse could do over a period of time.
In simple terms, one horsepower is defined as the power needed to lift 550 pounds by a distance of one foot in just one second.
The concept of horsepower was invented by Scottish engineer James Watt in the late 18th century.
To help sell his new steam engines, he needed a simple way to compare their power to something people already understood: the strength of a draft horse.
After observing horses at work, Watt calculated that an average horse could lift 550 pounds at a rate of one foot per second.
He established this value as the standard for one horsepower (hp), creating a brilliant marketing tool that is still used today.
It can be hard to picture what "550 foot-pounds per second" feels like. Here's a more modern way to think about it:
Imagine lifting a 55-pound bag of dog food 10 feet into the air in just one second.
The power you would need to do that is roughly equal to one horsepower.
This simple standard created a practical way to measure and compare the power of different engines and motors.
In modern science and most parts of the world, the standard unit for power is the watt (W), named after James Watt.
The conversion between horsepower and watts is essential for comparing specifications on modern electronics and machinery.
The conversion is:
This means an engine rated at 10 hp has a power output of approximately 7,457 watts, or about 7.5 kilowatts (kW).
A megawatt (MW) is a unit used to measure power.
It's equal to one million watts.
To put it simply, it's a way to describe a huge amount of electricity being used or generated at a single moment.
One megawatt (1 MW) can power between 750 and 1,000 homes at any given moment.
This number can change depending on what's running in each home (like air conditioning on a hot day).
It's a helpful estimate used by grid operators to understand how much electricity a community needs.
It's easy to mix up megawatts (MW) and megawatt-hours (MWh). Here's a simple way to understand the difference between MW vs. MWh:
So, a power plant has a capacity measured in MW (how much electricity it can make at once).
In contrast, your electricity bill shows your consumption in MWh (how much you actually used over a month).
A megawatt is a tremendous amount of power. To understand its scale, here's a look at the capacity of different power sources: