Question

The power developed by an engine at the output shaft is called ____________

(a) brake power

(b) indicated power

(c) mean effective pressure

(d) none of the mentioned

I got this question in a national level competition.

Question is from Engine Power topic in chapter Measurements and Testing/Performance Parameters and Characteristics of IC Engine

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

(a) brake power

Explanation:

- Brake Power (B.P.) refers to the power developed by the engine at the output shaft (crankshaft), which is the usable power available for performing work after losses due to friction and other mechanical resistances within the engine.

- Indicated Power (I.P.) is the total power generated by the combustion process, measured directly from the cylinder pressure before any losses due to friction or other internal factors.

- Mean Effective Pressure (M.E.P.) is a term used to describe the average pressure in the cylinder during the power stroke, which helps in estimating the engine's power output.

Thus, brake power is the power that can actually be used for driving external devices, and it's measured at the output shaft of the engine.