The difference of Torque and Horsepower.

Torque is a measure of force over distance.  Horsepower is a rate in which torque is being done.

Torque = force * distance

                 lbs          ft

Horsepower = [(force * distance) / time] / 550

                            lbs          ft            sec 

One could move a box weighing 550 lbs 1 foot  and would be exerting 550 ft * lbs of torque.  It wouldn't matter if he took 1 second or an entire day.  The rate or amount of horsepower this person was using, would depend on the amount of time it took to move the 550 pound  box 1 foot. 

If it took 1 second to do this work, then the person would be using 1 horsepower.

horsepower = [(550 lb box * 1 foot) / 1 sec] / 550 = 1

If it took the entire day (86400 seconds) to do this work, then the person would be using 0.000011574 horsepower.

horsepower = [(550 lb box * 1 foot) / 86400 sec] / 550 = 0.000011574

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