Power Needed to Accelerate 700kg Car from Rest

  • Thread starter johnnyb
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In summary, the conversation is about finding the power of a car's engine, neglecting frictional losses, while it accelerates from rest. The suggested method is to use the relationship between power, force, and work, and to integrate to find the final equation for power. The conversation ends with the thanks for the help.
  • #1
johnnyb
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Hey guys any help on this question would be much appreciated

A 700kg car accelerates from rest under constant power at t = 0. At t = 9s it is 117.7m from its starting position and its acceleration is then 1.09m/s2. Find the power, expended by the car's engine, neglecting frictional losses.
 
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  • #2
Power = Work / Time
Work = Force x Distance
Force = Mass x Acceleration

Power = Mass x Acceleration x Distance / Time
 
  • #3
I thought of that, but below that it says

Hint: Start with the relationship between Power and Force, rearrange differentials to intergrate

This just confused me, and I thought maybe it wasn't that simple as what you posted above
 
  • #4
All the integration will lead to the answer I gave you above.

But in that case:

[tex] dW = P dt[/tex]

[tex] dW = F dx[/tex]

[tex] P dt = F dx [/tex]

Integrating both sides:

[tex] \int { P dt } = \int { F dx } [/tex]

[tex] Pt = Fx [/tex]

[tex] P = \frac{Fx}{t} [/tex]

Thats as differential as I can get.
 
  • #5
Ok thanks very much for your help
 

1. How much power is needed to accelerate a 700kg car from rest?

The power needed to accelerate a 700kg car from rest would depend on several factors such as the speed at which the car needs to be accelerated, the friction of the surface it is on, and the efficiency of the car's engine. However, using the formula P = F x v, where P is power, F is force, and v is velocity, we can estimate that the average power needed to accelerate a 700kg car from rest to 60mph in 10 seconds would be around 84,000 watts.

2. How does the weight of the car affect the power needed to accelerate it?

The weight of the car does not directly affect the power needed to accelerate it, but it does indirectly affect it. A heavier car would require more force to accelerate it, which would in turn require more power. This is because the force needed to accelerate an object is directly proportional to its mass, as stated by Newton's Second Law of Motion (F = ma).

3. Is there a maximum amount of power that can be used to accelerate a car from rest?

Technically, there is no maximum amount of power that can be used to accelerate a car from rest. However, there are practical limitations such as the capabilities of the car's engine and the laws of physics. For example, using an extremely powerful engine to accelerate a car from rest could damage the car's components or cause it to lose traction and not accelerate effectively.

4. What role does the engine's horsepower play in accelerating a car from rest?

The engine's horsepower is a measure of the power it can produce. In order for a car to accelerate from rest, the engine must generate enough power to overcome the car's inertia and propel it forward. The higher the horsepower of the engine, the more power it can produce, and the faster the car can accelerate.

5. Can the power needed to accelerate a car from rest be reduced?

Yes, the power needed to accelerate a car from rest can be reduced by improving the car's efficiency, reducing its weight, and using techniques such as coasting or regenerative braking. Additionally, utilizing alternative energy sources such as electricity or hybrid engines can also reduce the power needed to accelerate a car from rest.

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