Solve complex engineering problems. Tools for thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, electricity, and energy.
🔥 Popular Calculations
Convert electric motor horsepower to current in Amps.
Open CalculatorCalculate the total heat content of a system.
Open CalculatorDetermine the appropriate wire size for DC circuits.
Open CalculatorCalculate gas volume or temperature changes at constant pressure.
Open CalculatorConvert Gallons Per Minute to Gallons Per Acre.
Open CalculatorCalculate the force needed to extend or compress a spring.
Open CalculatorCalculate the required pipe diameter for a given flow rate and velocity.
Open CalculatorCalculate fluid flow rate through a pipe.
Open CalculatorCalculate the slope or pitch required for gravity flow pipes.
Open CalculatorDetermine optimal pipe size based on flow rate and velocity limits.
Open CalculatorCalculate power factor to measure electrical efficiency.
Open CalculatorCalculate the power-to-weight ratio for vehicles or engines.
Open CalculatorCalculate the slope or gradient of a pipe installation.
Open CalculatorCalculate volume flow rate from velocity and area.
Open CalculatorEngineering physics is the bridge between pure simulation and the real world. It involves applying the rigorous laws of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electromagnetism to design systems that solve human problems. Whether it's calculating the flow rate of water through a municipal pipe or determining the horsepower needed for an industrial motor, accuracy is paramount.
This section covers a broad spectrum of applied physics. Thermodynamics deals with heat and energy transfer (Enthalpy, Gas Laws). Fluid Mechanics governs how liquids and gases move (Flow Rate, Pipe Sizing). Electrical Engineering focuses on power delivery and efficiency (Power Factor, Wire Gauge).
Successful engineering requires a deep understanding of constraints. A pipe must be large enough to carry flow but small enough to be cost-effective. A wire must be thick enough to carry current without melting but thin enough to be flexible. The calculators below aid in these optimization decisions.
Fluid dynamics is the study of fluids (liquids and gases) in motion.
Continuity Equation (Q = Av): Since mass is conserved, the volume of fluid
entering a pipe must equal the volume leaving. If the pipe gets narrower (Area A decreases),
the fluid must speed up (Velocity v increases).
Bernoulli's Principle: As the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure
decreases. This counter-intuitive principle explains how airplane wings generate lift and
how carburetors mix air and fuel.
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. A hydroelectric dam converts the Potential Energy of elevated water into Kinetic Energy of falling water, which spins a turbine to create Electrical Energy. Understanding these conversion efficiencies is the job of the engineer.
In AC circuits, not all power is "useful." Real Power (kW) does the work (heating, spinning). Reactive Power (kVAR) bounces back and forth in magnetic fields. The Power Factor is the ratio of Real to Apparent Power. A low power factor means wasted energy and higher bills.
For a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure, the volume is directly proportional to the Kelvin temperature (V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂). This explains why tires lose pressure in winter and why hot air balloons rise (hot air is less dense/more voluminous).
These equations are the bread and butter of mechanical and civil engineering. Note the importance of units—mixing metric and imperial units is a classic source of engineering failure (e.g., the Mars Climate Orbiter).
Designing city water systems requires precise pipe sizing. Too small, and pressure drops drastically due to friction. Too big, and the water moves too slowly, allowing sediment to settle and bacteria to grow.
Spring suspension systems rely on Hooke's Law to absorb bumps. The spring constant (k) is tuned to the car's mass to ensure a smooth ride frequency (usually 1-2 Hz).
Factories heavily monitor power factor. A plant with many large induction motors (low power factor) draws excess current, heating up transformers. Capacitor banks are installed to correct this and avoid utility penalties.
This is the most common confusion. Energy (Joules) is the capacity to do work—like the size of a fuel tank. Power (Watts) is the rate at which that energy is used—like the flow rate of the fuel. You can have a lot of energy but release it slowly (low power), or a little energy released instantly (high power explosion).
Actually, if flow is constant, smaller pipes cause velocity to increase (Continuity). However, smaller pipes have much higher friction per unit volume. Over a long distance, this friction "eats" the pressure (Head Loss). So while velocity goes up locally, the pressure drop along the line is much steeper.
AC (Alternating Current) is better for transmission because it is easy to step voltage up/down with transformers, minimizing loss over long wires. DC (Direct Current) is better for electronics (computers, LEDs) and batteries. Modern High Voltage DC (HVDC) is now making DC competitive for long-distance too.
Surprisingly, yes. While Watts (SI unit) are better, horsepower is deeply ingrained in the automotive and industrial motor industries. 1 Mechanical HP ≈ 746 Watts. If you buy a motor in the US, it will likely be rated in HP.
Disclaimer: The calculators and tools available on PhysicsCalculators.net are designed for educational and informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, the results and calculations provided may contain errors or inaccuracies. Users are advised to verify the information independently and not rely solely on these results for academic, professional, or experimental purposes. PhysicsCalculators.net assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from the use of these tools.