How Cars Accelerate - A Physics Explanation

In summary, cars accelerate by using the equation f=ma, where the only external force acting on the car is friction. The direction of friction varies depending on which wheels are driving and which are not. The maximum acceleration for a car is determined by its weight and the coefficient of friction, and as long as a smaller powered car has enough horsepower to deliver the required maximum friction force, its acceleration can be the same as a higher powered car. However, other variables such as surface conditions can affect the acceleration of a car.
  • #1
DV10
14
0

Homework Statement



How do cars accelerate?

Homework Equations



f=ma

The Attempt at a Solution


the only external force on a car is friction,generally forward directioned for the back wheels n backward directioned for the front ones.when a car accelerates how is this friction varied?
i mean for a given dimension n wieght,will not the maximum acceleration be same for all cars irrespective of their engines?(because max friction is (myu)*(Normal reaction) where myu is coefficient of friction)
 
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  • #2
DV10 said:

Homework Statement



How do cars accelerate?

Homework Equations



f=ma

The Attempt at a Solution


the only external force on a car is friction,generally forward directioned for the back wheels n backward directioned for the front ones.
looking in the horizontal direction , and neglecting air drag, this is correct, except that friction acts forward on the driving wheels, and backwards on the non driving wheels
when a car accelerates how is this friction varied?
i mean for a given dimension n wieght,will not the maximum acceleration be same for all cars irrespective of their engines?(because max friction is (myu)*(Normal reaction) where myu is coefficient of friction)
Provided that the smaller powered car has enough horsepower to deliver the required maximum friction force, this would be correct (in absence of other variables). So if you had a low power car and a high power car, of the same mass, and they were accelerating from rest on a icy (low friction coefficient) surface, wheels not sliding, how would their accelerations compare in this case, and how would they differ if they both instead were on a dry surface?
 

1. How does the engine of a car contribute to its acceleration?

The engine of a car works by converting chemical energy from fuel into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then used to turn the wheels of the car and propel it forward, resulting in acceleration.

2. What is the role of friction in a car's acceleration?

Friction plays a crucial role in a car's acceleration. The force of friction between the tires and the road surface allows the car to gain traction and move forward. Without enough friction, the wheels would simply spin in place and the car would not accelerate.

3. How does the weight of a car affect its acceleration?

The weight of a car is directly related to its acceleration. The more weight a car has, the more force is required to accelerate it. This is because the car's weight adds to the overall inertia, making it harder to change its state of motion.

4. What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?

Acceleration refers to the rate of change of an object's velocity. In other words, it is how much an object's velocity changes over a certain period of time. Velocity, on the other hand, refers to the speed and direction of an object's motion.

5. Why does a car's acceleration decrease as it reaches higher speeds?

As a car reaches higher speeds, the force of air resistance acting against it also increases. This creates a drag force that opposes the car's motion and requires more energy to overcome. As a result, the car's acceleration decreases until it eventually reaches a constant speed, known as terminal velocity.

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