Convert Foot-Pound per Second to Megawatt (ft·lbf/s → MW)
The foot-pound per second is the American mechanical-power unit, used in engineering and machine-rating contexts.
Foot-Pound per Second to Megawatt Conversion Table
10 common values| Foot-Pound per Second | Megawatt |
|---|---|
| 1 ft·lbf/s | 0.000001356 MW |
| 5 ft·lbf/s | 0.000006779 MW |
| 10 ft·lbf/s | 0.00001356 MW |
| 50 ft·lbf/s | 0.00006779 MW |
| 100 ft·lbf/s | 0.000136 MW |
| 500 ft·lbf/s | 0.000678 MW |
| 1,000 ft·lbf/s | 0.001356 MW |
| 5,000 ft·lbf/s | 0.006779 MW |
| 10,000 ft·lbf/s | 0.013558 MW |
| 50,000 ft·lbf/s | 0.067791 MW |
How to Convert Foot-Pound per Second to Megawatt Manually
Step by StepConverting foot-pounds per second to megawatts is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.
- 1Take your value in foot-pounds per secondStart with the number of foot-pounds per second (ft·lbf/s) you want to convert.
- 2Multiply by 0.000001356The conversion factor from ft·lbf/s to MW is 0.000001356. Multiply your value by this number.
- 3Read the result in megawattsThe result is your value in megawatts (MW).
Formula
Multiply the value in foot-pounds per second by 0.000001356. For the reverse direction, multiply by 737,562.15.
MW = ft·lbf/s × 0.000001356ft·lbf/s = MW × 737,562.15Tips
Use these in everyday conversions- 1 ft·lbf/s = 1.356 W.
- 550 ft·lbf/s = 1 mechanical hp.
- Rarely needed today outside archival references.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these- Confusing ft·lbf/s (power) with ft·lbf (torque or work).
- Using in modern specifications — prefer W or kW.
- Mixing with foot-pound (energy) in same calculation.
About Foot-Pound per Second and Megawatt
What is the Foot-Pound per Second?
The foot-pound per second (ft·lb/s) is the American mechanical-power unit, used in engineering and machine-rating contexts. James Watt's original definition of 1 horsepower was 33,000 ft·lb/min = 550 ft·lb/s, so the foot-pound per second is the granular American power unit underlying horsepower calculations. It is rare in everyday use (kW or hp dominate American power specifications) but appears in engineering thermodynamics textbooks, mechanical-design calculations, and ballistics-energy contexts. The ft·lb/s relates to the watt (1 ft·lb/s ≈ 1.356 W), horsepower (550 ft·lb/s = 1 hp), and the BTU per hour (1 ft·lb/s ≈ 4.626 BTU/h). It is part of the legacy US customary unit system that retains a foothold in mechanical engineering despite metric advancement.
- Older US mechanical-engineering calculations
- Some US physics textbooks
- Classical-mechanics problems
Largely historical; modern specs use W or hp.
What is the Megawatt?
The megawatt equals 1,000,000 watts (or 1,000 kW) and rates power plants, large industrial facilities, and grid-scale renewable installations worldwide. A typical natural-gas turbine generates 50–500 MW, a nuclear reactor produces 800–1,600 MW, and the largest hydroelectric plant (Three Gorges Dam in China) has 22,500 MW capacity. Wind turbines are rated 1.5–15 MW each (modern offshore turbines reach 14 MW). Solar farms range from 50 MW (small) to 1,500+ MW (large utility-scale projects). Electric grid demand for entire countries is measured in gigawatts (1 GW = 1,000 MW): the United States peaks at about 750 GW. The megawatt relates to the kilowatt (1,000 kW = 1 MW), the gigawatt (1,000 MW = 1 GW), and the megawatt-hour (when multiplied by time). Electricity wholesale markets bid in MW capacity and MWh energy.
- Power-station electrical output
- Wind and solar farm capacity
- Large industrial electricity consumption
Large wind turbine: 5–15 MW. Nuclear reactor: 1000 MW. London's peak demand: ~6000 MW.