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Constant Power

 
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Sep26-04, 10:02 PM   #1
 

Constant Power


A car manufacturer claims that their car can accelerate from rest to 87 km/hr in 6.3 s. The car's mass is 940 kg. Assuming that this performance is achieved at constant power, determine the power developed by the car's engine.
Ok, I solved the problem by first solving for constant acceleration. a=[v(f)-v(0)]/t
Then using that I found the Force, using F=ma. Then plugging into P=F(dot)v

The answer that i got, 87143.056W is wrong. I think it could be because the problem says it is constant power, not constant acceleration.

How can I go about solving this problem? I dont really understand the concept of constant power instead of constant acceleration
 
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Sep26-04, 10:11 PM   #2
 
Remember what power is. The unit for power, watts, is equal to joules per second. Power is energy transfered in a given amount of time. Can you solve the problem using energy concepts?
 
Sep26-04, 11:15 PM   #3
 
ok, i know that Kinetic energy is = .5mv^2

so the kinetic energy at v=87 km/hr (24.167 m/s) is .5(940 kg)(24.167 m/s)^2= 11358.49 J. I dont know where to go from here.
I divided it by 6.3 sec to get 1802.93 J/s, but that is wrong. Atleast the units are right, heh.
 
Sep26-04, 11:36 PM   #4
 
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Constant Power


I think you have the right idea and your numbers look right. Was there any discussion of thermodynamic efficiency in your class or your textbook?
 
Sep26-04, 11:47 PM   #5
 
in the last lecture the prof. talked about it for a few minutes at the end. my book has some examples, but nothing related to this problem, (or so i think)
 
Sep26-04, 11:52 PM   #6
 
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Quote by TraceBusta
in the last lecture the prof. talked about it for a few minutes at the end. my book has some examples, but nothing related to this problem, (or so i think)
That may be a big clue! Just to get an idea is "the answer" approximately 3 times as large as the one you got?
 
Sep26-04, 11:58 PM   #7
 
well i won't know the right answer until the computer says "OK"after i enter it. until then it just says "NO"

I'm curious, why would it be 3 times larger?
 
Sep27-04, 12:30 AM   #8
 
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Quote by TraceBusta
well i won't know the right answer until the computer says "OK"after i enter it. until then it just says "NO"

I'm curious, why would it be 3 times larger?
It's only a guess but thermodynamic efficiency is generally about 30%

If I might ask, how do you know the answer you got is wrong?
 
Sep27-04, 01:22 AM   #9
 
it says "no" when i put in a wrong answer
 
Sep27-04, 01:36 AM   #10

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Quote by TraceBusta
ok, i know that Kinetic energy is = .5mv^2

so the kinetic energy at v=87 km/hr (24.167 m/s) is .5(940 kg)(24.167 m/s)^2= 11358.49 J. .

24.167^2*940/2 = 274500

ehild
 
Oct4-04, 08:26 PM   #11
 
How would you find this same type of problem, but in addition, there's a constant air resistance force? Thanks.
 
Oct4-04, 08:36 PM   #12
 
Subtract work done by frictional forces from the total energy. (W=FdcosΘ)
 
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