Thrust required for a Car driven by a propeller

In summary: That's only 5% of 270kW power output.In summary, the conversation discusses the amount of thrust required for a car to move at different speeds, taking into account the weight of the car and factors such as incline, friction, and drag. The conversation also mentions the power output of a Tesla motor and how it relates to the car's speed. Suggestions for calculating the maximum thrust and force required for acceleration are also provided.
  • #1
KuriousKid
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Out of curiosity, If suppose a car is driven/propelled by Propeller, how much thrust would be required to get it rolling or moving, then drive at 30 MPH, at 60 MPH and at 100 MPH? Consider the car weighs 6000 lb including passengers. If same car is inclined at 30 degrees, how much thrust is required to move it forward.
What could be the formula to formulate this relationship of thrust and speed etc? Assume all standard road conditions.
 
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  • #2
KuriousKid said:
... how much thrust would be required to get it rolling or moving, then drive at 30 MPH, at 60 MPH and at 100 MPH? Consider the car weighs 6000 lb including passengers. If same car is inclined at 30 degrees, how much thrust is required to move it forward.
What forces are opposing the thrust and have to be balanced to move at constant speed?
 
  • #3
On plane level road, friction force [negligible], at higher speed drag and turbulence. At about 60 mph, drag force is about 500 N. If at 100 mph it goes about 1000 N or so. But what I see is Tesla having Motor of a 362 hp (270 kW) and 325 ft⋅lb (440 N⋅m) motor. How does it go beyond 100 mph, if output is 440 N.m? I'm missing something, which I don't know. Something basic.
 
  • #4
KuriousKid said:
If at 100 mph it goes about 1000 N or so. But what I see is Tesla having Motor of a 362 hp (270 kW)...
Is that not enough?

KuriousKid said:
I'm missing something, which I don't know.
How can we know, if you don't post your math?
 
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Likes anorlunda
  • #5
The Maths is what I'm lacking... That's why I posted here.
 
  • #6
KuriousKid said:
But what I see is Tesla having Motor of a 362 hp (270 kW) and 325 ft⋅lb (440 N⋅m) motor. How does it go beyond 100 mph, if output is 440 N.m? I'm missing something, which I don't know. Something basic.
That 440 Nm number is the motor's torque, which has very little to do with the question you're asking. You want to focus on the power output - 270 kW, meaning that the motor will produce 270000 joules of energy per second (one watt is one joule per second).

This may not be helpful to you, though, unless you understand the relationship between force in Newtons, energy in joules, and the distance the car moves in a given amount of time. For that, you'll need the equation ##W=Fd## (W is the energy, F is the force, d is the distance). Google for "W=Fd examples" to get started.
 
  • #8
Hello, Thank you for explanation. Is there a way to calculate the maximum thrust produced by 270 Kw machine? What I mean is, the force being applied in between tires and ground to move the car?
 
  • #9
KuriousKid said:
Hello, Thank you for explanation. Is there a way to calculate the maximum thrust produced by 270 Kw machine? What I mean is, the force being applied in between tires and ground to move the car?
Take the mechanical power equation from wiki, and solve for force.
 
  • #10
KuriousKid said:
Hello, Thank you for explanation. Is there a way to calculate the maximum thrust produced by 270 Kw machine? What I mean is, the force being applied in between tires and ground to move the car?
It depends on the gearing. In principle there's no upper limit - halve the diameter of the wheel and you double the maximum possible force at the tire-wheel interface (and halve the speed the car is moving at, for a given power output).

Have you tried googling for ##W=Fd## yet? What did you find?
 
  • #11
KuriousKid said:
Hello, Thank you for explanation. Is there a way to calculate the maximum thrust produced by 270 Kw machine? What I mean is, the force being applied in between tires and ground to move the car?
Previous posts have shown you how to calculate the force at any given velocity.

Force = power/velocity
 
  • #12
  • #13
KuriousKid said:
Out of curiosity,..., how much thrust would be required to get it rolling or moving, then drive at 30 MPH, at 60 MPH and at 100 MPH?

You can measure the thrust required to hold a constant speed by a coastdown test. Here's an example of one: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/coastdown-test-06-gmc-canyon-20405.html. It works for any road vehicle.

The thrust required to accelerate is simply the thrust required at a speed added to the force of acceleration: F = ma.
 
  • #14
...these are late, but...

You can also calculate the thrust required from the fuel economy at any speed, and an assumption about engine efficiency. For example, if I remember a previous calculation I did (I think 25% efficiency), 60mph and 30mpg = about 17hp, or 12.7kW or 5,600N.
 

1. What is thrust and how does it relate to a car driven by a propeller?

Thrust is a force that propels an object forward. In the case of a car driven by a propeller, the thrust is created by the propeller pushing air backwards, which in turn pushes the car forward.

2. How is the required thrust calculated for a car driven by a propeller?

The required thrust for a car driven by a propeller is calculated by taking into account the weight of the car, the desired speed, and the air resistance. This calculation is known as the thrust-to-weight ratio and is used to determine the amount of power needed for the propeller to propel the car forward at a certain speed.

3. What factors can affect the thrust required for a car driven by a propeller?

The main factors that can affect the thrust required for a car driven by a propeller are the weight of the car, the speed at which it is traveling, and the air resistance. Other factors such as the design and efficiency of the propeller and the engine power can also impact the required thrust.

4. How does the thrust required for a car driven by a propeller differ from that of a traditional car?

The thrust required for a car driven by a propeller is different from that of a traditional car because it relies on the force of air instead of the force of friction on the ground. This means that the propeller-driven car can achieve higher speeds and requires less energy to maintain those speeds compared to a traditional car.

5. Can the thrust required for a car driven by a propeller be increased?

Yes, the thrust required for a car driven by a propeller can be increased by improving the design and efficiency of the propeller and engine, reducing the weight of the car, and minimizing air resistance. However, there are physical limitations to how much thrust can be achieved based on the size and power of the engine.

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