Torque

Lawn Mower Performance: How Torque Gets It Done

The concept of torque isn't new. It has been a measurement of power in such things as motorsport racing, skiing, golf, and other activities that use or require a twisting turning motion.

It is the power to turn something.  And in outdoor power equipment, torque is the most direct way to determine an engine’s ability to get the job done.  Torque is the work power generated by the engine that keeps the blade spinning on your mower, drives the pump on your pressure washer, and turns the alternator on your portable generator.  More torque means improved performance.  And the more torque you have, the better.

From Briggs and Stratton: http://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/engines/push-mower-engines/engines-101/torque-gets-it-done

I mow my lawn, and in the past decided on mowers depending on their deck, but after reading this article I now know that all machines should be looked at by their capability to produce torque. This helped me understand torque, since before it seemed like this abstract thought but it is not at all. Torque is present in every machine used daily. One thing I wish they would have done better would have been to add more about the physics of why this worked, but it still allowed me to grasp the concept better.