Torque BS Filter - explained

[Ken Mayer]

[snip]

> The only thing left out is that horsepower (like most units in the
> English
> system of measurement) comes from a wierd, historical event. According
> to
> what I read, James Watt (the inventor of the steam engine) wanted a way
> to
> compare his steam engines against the work produced by the standard
> "engine"
> of his day... the horse.
> 
> He had draft horses lift weights and measured the time they required.
> From this
> he derived their rate of work and thus the horsepower was born. :)
> 
> And yes the SI system is great!

Some more history:

Did you know that the SI (metric) system has been the _official_ (under
federal law)  system of measurement in the U.S. since the 1700's?  The
abomination of feet and inches is defined by reference to the metric
standard. 

Ken
:-)