You might not be as strong as an ox, but you could argue that you are as strong as a horse – in a sense. According to LiveScience, an average healthy human is capable of producing 1 horsepower of work. That sounds like a lot, right? Well, the truth is, one average healthy horse can produce about 15 horsepower.
If that all sounds confusing, blame steam engine pioneer James Watt, who coined the term "horsepower" in the 1700s as a way to boast about the strength of his inventions. Accuracy wasn't so important, apparently. Watt used simple observations to estimate how much work a horse could produce – about 33,000 foot-pounds per minute – and compared it with his powerful steam engines.
Watt was so revered that no one bothered to question his estimate, and thus the word "horsepower" became part of common vernacular, and is still used today (an average car has around 170-190 horsepower). It might not be horse sense, but it was great for business.
Watt a guy:
- James Watt made his first foray into steam power by experimenting with his mother's cooking pots as a child.
- James Watt also invented the micrometer, a precise measuring device still in use today.
- Many business owners refused to pay Watt royalties for his steam engine, relying on older, less-efficient engines instead.