TORQUE
Diesel engines
are known for producing high torque. By
definition torque is the tendency for an object to cause
rotation or torsion. In Physics we have the equation T = F x d
, where d is the perpendicular
distance from the point to the line of action of force and T
is the torque (tao) (Knight, 2004). Torque in a diesel
engine is produced by the length of stroke of the piston
inside of the cylinder. The piston are offset from the
rotating crankshaft so that as the crankshaft rotates in
circular motion the piston on the connecting rods will rotate,
therefore moving up and down as a stroke (Baker, n.d.). The torque in a diesel engine
can be physically felt when a truck is hauling a heavy load
and there is the ÒoomfÓ on the
bottom end of the power band. The high torque is another
reason that diesel engines are popular in equipment and off
road vehicles.
