Does Gravitational Variation Affect Fuel Consumption on Identical Roads?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of why a car consumes different amounts of fuel on two identical roads located in different geographical areas. Participants explore various factors that could influence fuel consumption, including gravitational variation, atmospheric conditions, and other environmental parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that gravitational distribution on Earth may not be homogeneous, potentially affecting fuel consumption.
  • Another participant mentions that different altitudes could lead to varying pressure values, which might influence the operation of an internal combustion engine.
  • Additional factors such as wind, temperature, and humidity are proposed as possible influences on fuel consumption.
  • A participant questions the extent to which wind and humidity can affect fuel consumption, seeking to quantify their impact in terms of liters per kilometer.
  • It is noted that the effect of wind on fuel consumption can depend on the shape of the car, as well as the direction and strength of the wind.
  • Concerns are raised about the need for careful analysis regarding the effects of temperature and humidity on fuel consumption.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the factors influencing fuel consumption, and the discussion remains unresolved as to which factors are most significant.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that there may be additional parameters affecting fuel consumption that have not been fully explored in the discussion.

y33t
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Hi all,

Problem ; Why a car consumes different amounts of fuel on two different roads with same characteristics only with different locations ?

Assumptions;

-Amounts of fuel consumed, lengths and slopes of two roads are measured precisely.
-Two roads are built from the identical material thus friction force is same in both.
-Car has the same load including driver in both two measurements.
-Identical fuels are used in both two measurements.
-Car was driven with identical characteristics in two measurements.

Surely there might be other parameters that needs to be considered for performing such a comparison but these are the ones that comes to my mind mainly.

My potential explanations ;

1- Gravitational distribution on Earth or object due to space is not homogeneous ?

2- Different altitudes have different pressure values that can directly/indirectly effect the operation of the internal combustion engine
 
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Wind. Temperature (of air, tyres, road). Humidity.
 
voko said:
Wind. Temperature (of air, tyres, road). Humidity.

Temperature is the same as well.

Wind and humidity ; up to what percentage can these parameters be effective ?

Let's say 10lt/100km for no wind and humidity is at reference cell.

What would the average wind and average humidity correspond to in liters/kilometers ?
 
For wind, much depends on the shape of the car and the direction and the strength of wind. It is not entirely implausible to speculate that it is possible for a car arrive at its destination by wind alone.

I am less sure about the temperature and humidity, this will require a careful analysis.
 

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