New to calculating automotive formula. Help

[Mr Average]

Homework Statement

A vehicle has a mass of X tonne. Tractive effort is Y kN. Travelling on a level road. Formula to calculate acceleration is a=f/m and tractive resistance is 250N (for example). How the devil do I work out the acceleration of the vehicle? I am totally stumped.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[PhanthomJay]

It's F_net = ma, not F=ma. If you are given the mass of the vehicle, X, and the tractive effort, Y, and the tractive resistance, R, then a = F_net/X, where F_net is the algebraic sum of Y and R (which act in opposite directions). Don't forget to convert tonnes to kilograms, and be consistent with force units.

 

[xxChrisxx]

I'm struggling to find a way to walk you through this without giving the answer away.

You just put what you know in Newtons second law equation. look at the units of the info you are given, then look at the units used in the equation.

 

[Mr Average]

Thanks for the offers of help folks.

 

[DeeNos]

Hello,

Calculating automotive formulas can be challenging, but with some guidance, it can become easier. Let's break down the information provided to help you understand how to calculate the acceleration of the vehicle.

First, let's define some terms. Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in an object, and it is typically measured in kilograms (kg) or tonnes (t). Tractive effort is the amount of force that the engine can produce to move the vehicle, and it is usually measured in kilonewtons (kN). Tractive resistance is the force that opposes the motion of the vehicle, and it is typically measured in newtons (N).

Now, let's look at the formula for acceleration, which is a = f/m. This formula tells us that acceleration (a) is equal to the force (f) divided by the mass (m). In this case, the force is the tractive effort (Y kN), and the mass is the vehicle's mass (X tonne). So, the formula for calculating the acceleration of the vehicle is:

a = Y kN / X t

Next, we need to consider the tractive resistance of 250N. This force is opposing the motion of the vehicle, so we need to subtract it from the tractive effort. This will give us the net force that is accelerating the vehicle. The updated formula would then be:

a = (Y kN - 250N) / X t

To calculate the acceleration, simply plug in the values for Y (tractive effort) and X (mass) and solve for a. Remember to keep the units consistent, so convert the mass from tonnes to kilograms if necessary.

I hope this helps you understand how to calculate the acceleration of a vehicle. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Good luck with your calculations!