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jpsa
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is there a simple formula to get the theoretical acceleration and top speed of a car given power, mass and drag?
Originally posted by Cliff_J
You would also need to know the average power applied as a function of time (unless you have a CVT) and drivetrain losses.
The tire/traction point is an interesting one as well, the typical understanding of analyzing 1/4 mile tests is to use the MPH as more an indication of power:weight and the 60ft and ET to determine how large a component the launch played in the run down the track.
There were some approimation formulas published in Hot Rod magazine a few years back, maybe someone has posted something similar online.
Cliff
Acceleration is complicated, as it depends upon speed, drag and power and weight. Top speed is easy, as it depends only on drag and power. Top speed is achieved when drag equals driving force. But driving force is power over speed and drag is a constant times speed squared. Therefore,Originally posted by jpsa
is there a simple formula to get the theoretical acceleration and top speed of a car given power, mass and drag?
The formula for calculating car acceleration is a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is acceleration, vf is final velocity, vi is initial velocity, and t is time.
To calculate the acceleration of your car, you will need to measure the initial velocity and final velocity of the car and the time it takes to reach the final velocity. Then, plug those values into the formula a = (vf - vi) / t.
The units for acceleration in the car acceleration formula are m/s2, which stands for meters per second squared.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time, while velocity is the rate of change of position over time. In simpler terms, acceleration measures how quickly the speed of an object is changing, while velocity measures how fast and in what direction an object is moving.
The acceleration of a car can be affected by several factors, including the engine power, weight of the car, air resistance, tire traction, and road conditions. These factors can either increase or decrease the acceleration of a car.