What is Automotive: Definition and 120 Discussions

The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue. The automotive industry does not include industries dedicated to the maintenance of automobiles following delivery to the end-user, such as automobile repair shops and motor fuel filling stations.
The word automotive comes from the Greek autos (self), and Latin motivus (of motion), referring to any form of self-powered vehicle. This term, as proposed by Elmer Sperry
(1860-1930), first came into use with reference to automobiles in 1898.

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  1. A

    How Do I Effectively Post on Physics Forums?

    Hi There, Newbie to the forum, I work as a design engineer for a company called Helical Technology. Studied Engineering with honours in Motorsports at uni, recent graduate :) looks like an interesting forum! hopefully I can help with some queries as I hope you guys can help me with mine! thanks!
  2. T

    Basic Vibration Damping and Isolation

    Hello, I am studying and trying to understand Powertrain / Engine mounts used in automotive such as these: http://images.gasgoo.com/MiMwMDRfMDA0Izc4MDA3NzIwMA--/auto-part-engine-torque-strut-mount-engine-mounting-for-buick-enclave-chevrolet-traverse-gmc-acadia-25840458.jpg...
  3. A

    Automotive Engineering career advice

    Hello everyone! I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on what I should do in order to work in the automotive engineering field. Right now I am a freshman at Coastal Carolina University as an honors student in the Applied Physics major with a focus on engineering. I am on track to...
  4. Dylanqoneal

    What are the top engineering fields for students at RCC?

    Hello everyone! My Name is Dylan O'Neal, i am from San Diego and am currently a resident of Riverside CA. I am a new student at RCC and am looking to be either an Aerospace engineer or Mechanical engineer. my hobby would be modifying cars (in particular my own), and enjoy studying the physics of...
  5. Z

    What Are the Best Resources for Learning About Automotive Body and Trim?

    Hi! I have recently started working at an automotive company at the body and trim section and I feel like learning everything about the area. I have had trouble finding good study material at the library and with my searches on the internet so therefore I ask you guys for some help. From...
  6. A

    Need some help deciding Final Year Project Ideas welcome

    Hi I'm about to start my 3rd year in my Engineering university and would like some ideas for my Final Year project... We have 2 options. We can either make a model/prototype of something and present it OR we can do a research on a particular field. I'm leaning more towards the research side...
  7. R

    Calc Required Torque & RPM for Automotive App

    Hello I am working on vehicle, for which i need to calculate following things 1. Required torque (Nm) to move vehicle from stationary position? 2. RPM of the engine at the time of torque mentioned in point number 1? Available Input: 1. Vechile Weight(kg) - 4300 2. Engine Displacement - 3455 3...
  8. R

    Birefringence and Automotive Window Tinting

    Hi all, I'm new to the forums (in posting at least!). I recently graduated with a B.S. in Applied Physics, and have viewed topics here on and off throughout my educational experience. I definitely love this forum! I've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to buy a new car, and recently...
  9. S

    Modal Analysis for Safe Region in Automotive Vibrations

    can i locate region in an automotive, which is safe from vibrations, by modal analysis? can i conclude that blue region in mode shape a safe region?
  10. R

    Accumulated drag coefficient over an automotive

    Hello everyone, I have a question regarding the accumulated drag curve shown in the figure below for the CFD simulation of external flow over an automobile. (It is written Vehicle Cd in the figure) It can be seen in several regions that the accumulated drag curve is dropping (ie., having a...
  11. 1

    Questions regarding applications of physics/math to automotive eng

    As you can tell from my username, I am OBSESSED with cars. This obsession is what drew me to apply to a university to study mechanical engineering. I had struggled in high school phyiscs, it wasn't until I got the hang of it in college in my statics and dynamics course that I started to really...
  12. T

    Question about automotive braking systems

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  13. Kristaps

    Automotive Light Bulbs - Engineering Level Info

    Hello, I'm in 4.th course studying automotive engineering, and there are some things that I REALLY need to know about, but I can't find any useful and COMPLETE information about it - I have searched all over the internet, but there has no ENGINEER level information. I really need help here...
  14. K

    Need guidance - Inexperienced at Automotive Company

    Need guidance -- Inexperienced at Automotive Company... I am working in a reputed Automobile company. I am now in design optimization and localization team, to be more precise i am in door team. I am a fresher and joined two months back. I came to know that i don't have any design work like...
  15. A

    Debating on entering the Automotive Engineering field

    I'm currently trying to figure out what I should do when I'm out of the navy after my 5 years of service in early 2015. I've always had an interest in engineering (especially automotive) for a while now. I'm a huge gear head. Anyways the only issue I'm facing is I will be 25 my freshman year, so...
  16. M

    Automotive Are Battery Issues Hindering the Development of Automotive Power?

    Battery issues in Automotive! Hi guys, I'm required to write an essay about development of 'Automotive Power', with particular reference to the Batteries. So, I'm looking for some current issues on the batteries related to its development! Any idea?! Thanks
  17. A

    Difficulty in analyzing automotive tire in workbench

    Hi, I am trying to analyze the effects of pressure on the automotive t=ire by modeling and simulating the same in ANSYS workbench. However, I am having trouble applying material conditions to the model. I wish to use mooney rivlin material but when I apply that based on the guidance given by...
  18. B

    Engineering Advice For An Engineer Working In Automotive Manufacturing

    Hi, Im about to start work for an electrical component and wire harnessing manufacturing company. I am joining the company on a graduate scheme and was looking for some advice on what to expect from the job. Also if there's any background reading or knowledge i could obtain before i start...
  19. H

    Automotive Automotive differential problem

    Hi there, I'm currently doing some research into differentials and have been unable to find any indepth information on them. Every article I read covers the basics that one axle turns one direction relative to the diff casing and the other in the opposite direction so that the average of the 2...
  20. J

    The future of the automotive industry and transport in the us?

    The future of the automotive industry and transport in the us? Why will Americans never fully take to rail? Because we are adventurers by nature. The people that came to this Country had adventure in their blood. We like our cars, and we like em big and fast. So then I tell you Rail is the...
  21. E

    Automotive Is the Demand for Automotive Engineering Decreasing?

    So a great deal of the population uses some form of rail or automotive transport daily so obviously the automotive/rail companies are making a lot of money but what I don't understand is why the demand for automotive/rail engineers is decreasing? I ask this question because I initially started...
  22. berkeman

    New Automotive sub-forum under ME

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  23. B

    Understanding Automotive Differentials: How Do They Work?

    Folks, Is it true to say for standard "open" differentials that when a car is turning a corner that the torque is equal on both wheels but the power will be different based on the expression P=TW, assuming that there is sufficient traction for all wheels, ie no slip? thanks
  24. ¡

    MOSFET Redundancy/Fail-Safe in Automotive System

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  25. S

    Aspiring automotive engineer looking for advanced information.

    Hello there, (Sorry, I hope not to come on here too forward or over anyone's head). I am 25 years old (Junior), I seek information and am super hungry for it. I seek how to design cars, and all aspects thereof. I have decided to pursue establishing my own automotive engineering firm, and...
  26. E

    Automotive Engineering, Stopping Distance Calculations Help?

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  27. A

    Can You Bypass ECU Sensors with Resistors in Automotive Projects?

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  28. C

    Automotive Automotive application for absorption cycle?

    Hi there, I joined specifically to ask for help in exploring the possibility of harvesting the waste heat from a cars engine and recycling this energy to improve the engines efficiency. I'm assuming most people know about thermo dynamics, internal combustion and volumetric efficiency I:-p...
  29. O

    Electrical Motor Book for Automotive Robots?

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  30. X

    5000 watt 120V generator to charge 10 12V Automotive batteries

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  31. R

    Automotive Efficient Automotive Timing Belt for Low Speed Applications

    I am choosing a timing belt for a 60kw continuous system at roughly 1100rpm. This is a relatively low speed application. After using the belt selection programs written by Gates, Emerson and Goodyear, they all seem to point towards quite hefty installations with large pulley diameters and...
  32. L

    DC to DC circuit for automotive relay - 5v to 12v

    Greetings E.E. Gurus! I'm a noobie in need of your guidance! Here's the situation: I have a 5V DC, 0.25 amp (1.25W ?) power source from an oil pressure switch wire on an old truck that is activated only when the engine is running. My goal is to activate a 12V DC, 2.5 amp, 30/40W...
  33. F

    Automotive Acoustics engineering: Automotive exhaust harmonics

    I thought I would try to discuss this here since there seems to be a large misunderstanding in automotive forums and I want to learn the reality, not someone's theory. basically, I have a car here in which we removed one of the many mufflers. Piping is constructed as 2-1-2. It converges to...
  34. I

    Guidance on wire gauge size for automotive wire in a bundle

    Hi, I'm designing a wire harness for class 8 heavy duty trucks. I need to size the wires. Everything is 12V DC. I have designed a first draft of a wiring harness and I have all of the currents and voltage drops over each wire mapped out. All the wires are in a bundle that will be run along...
  35. M

    Engineering Circuits and automotive battery Question

    Homework Statement A constant current of 3 A for 4 hours is required to charge an automotive battery. If the terminal voltage is 10 + t/2 Volts, where t is in hours, how much energy is expended? (dw) Homework Equations i = dq/dt v= dw/dq (w = work in joules) p = iv The...
  36. V

    Questions about material for flywheel storage in automotive field

    Hello I have composed some figures for a flywheel system that would be used in a custom car and involve multiple flywheels. The vehicle would be use the flywheels for energy storage and recovery, and would be powered by electric engines placed on the drive axles. These flywheels would be...
  37. J

    Automotive Automotive Air Conditioning System

    I am doing a CADCAM course where I am to design a climate control system for the automobile. I am having difficulty in finding any sources of information in designing a Box (H-Type) Expansion Valve, Condenser Fan (Axial Propeller fan), Blower Fan (Backward Incinded Centrifugal Fan). I am...
  38. D

    Engineering Automotive Engineering: Career Ideas for Car Fanatics

    I've been a huge car fanatic since I was three, you name i know it about cars, I am looking into University Bound, what career would fit my style designing car body/engine working on producing cars, tuning cars sort of things like that.
  39. J

    Design of an automotive bumper

    Homework Statement I have attached the assignment below. The weight of the car will be 3702lbs Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I am not sure if I am on the right track, but so far I have calculated the kinetic energy as; E=1/2 mv^2 0.5 x (3702/32.2) x...
  40. M

    New to calculating automotive formula. Help

    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...
  41. F

    What are the Best Free Automotive Repair Videos on YouTube?

    I came across this fellow on Youtube. His name is Scotty Kilmer, and this week, he's my personal hero! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B__DqK90IIc Frankly, it is people like this that restore my faithful in both the internet, and humanity as a whole. Generosity--a most sacred virtue!
  42. W

    Stainless Steel Automotive Applications

    Hi all new to the forum here. I'm a cnc machinist here in Austin Texas looking for some mechanical advice regarding the use of stainless steel in high strength automotive applications. Basically, I'm planning on starting up my own little business replicating obsolete and out of production...
  43. L

    Lenz,s Law in Automotive situation

    I kind of understand Lenz's law but was wondering if anyone could tell me were does lenz's law acutally occur in automotive electrical systems.?
  44. M

    Calculating Truck Power Requirements for Constant Velocity Travel

    A truck engine transmits 28.0 kW (37.5 hp) to the driving wheels when the truck is traveling at a constant velocity of magnitude 60.0 km/h( 37.3 mi/h) on a level road. 1.Assume that 65% of the resisting force is due to rolling friction and the remainder is due to air resistance. If the...
  45. Char. Limit

    Cell Phone Automotive Usage Thoughts?

    http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12166928 http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9ED5BI00.htm http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100313/NEWS01/703139877&news01ad=1 http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/87601672.html http://blogs.zdnet.com/cell-phones/?p=3263 I think the...
  46. L

    Automotive 12 volt automotive circuit regulator

    I have a 2-12 volt motor circuit with a max amperage load of 24 amps. The cars charging system can fluctuate between 12.2 and 14.7 volts. This causes the speed of the motors to fluctuate too much. The problem I am having is I would like to limit the voltage on the power supply line to these...
  47. C

    Automotive Suspension: harmonic oscillator system, differential equations

    Homework Statement You are working at a company that designs suspension systems. Some guy from the marketing department asks you to design a shock absorber that "bounces twice", meaning that after the initial bump, the spring should expand, compress, expand again and then gradually settle...
  48. hxtasy

    Why do horsepower and torque curves crossover around 5252 rpm's?

    This is more of an automotive question I guess but anyways: I'm pretty familar with how torque and horsepower are related, the common equation most people think of is hp = ((tq X rpm)/ 5252). If you look at a lot of dyno graphs, the hp and torque curves always crossover around 5252...
  49. M

    Unlock the Potential of CAD CAM & CAE in Automotive Industries

    What application cad cam & cae in automotive industries...?
  50. R

    What is the Bell Automotive Retrofit Coin Holder made of?

    I can't find the material on their website and we need to know for class.
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