If one horsepower is applied for one minute, how many foot-pounds of work are produced?

• A. 3,300
• B. 66,000
• C. 33,000
• D. 33,000

Answer: (D)

Work is the amount of energy transferred by a force acting over time, and power times time gives work. One horsepower is a rate equal to 550 foot-pounds of work per second. Applying that rate for one minute means 60 seconds of operation, so the total work is 550 × 60 = 33,000 foot-pounds. Therefore, the work produced is 33,000 foot-pounds.