How many watts are equal to one horsepower of work?

One horsepower is defined as the ability to do work at a rate of 746 watts. This measurement originates from historical experiments conducted by James Watt to compare the output of steam engines to draft horses. The value of 746 watts is significant in both electrical and mechanical engineering, providing a means of converting between two units of power.

Understanding that one horsepower equals 746 watts allows technicians and engineers to appropriately calculate and convert power requirements in HVAC systems that may utilize electric motors rated in horsepower. It is crucial in applications such as compressors and pumps where the power needed for operation directly affects system efficiency and performance.

The other options, though commonly misinterpreted numbers in the context of horsepower, do not reflect this established conversion and are therefore not applicable to the standard definition used in HVAC and other engineering fields.