Calculating the push force on a vehicle

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the force required to push a four-wheel vehicle with a mass of 200 kg from rest to a top speed of 2 m/s, with an acceleration of 1 m/s². The primary formula used is F=ma, where the force needed for acceleration is significantly greater than the static friction. The participants suggest using a rolling resistance coefficient of 0.01 for calculations, emphasizing that static friction is not a major concern once the vehicle is in motion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Second Law (F=ma)
  • Knowledge of rolling resistance coefficients
  • Basic physics concepts related to motion and friction
  • Familiarity with vehicle dynamics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of rolling resistance on vehicle acceleration
  • Learn how to calculate force using different friction coefficients
  • Explore advanced vehicle dynamics and acceleration techniques
  • Investigate the effects of varying mass on force requirements
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, automotive engineers, and anyone interested in vehicle dynamics and force calculations will benefit from this discussion.

eddie123
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Hi,

I am trying to work out what force you would need to push a four wheel vehicle of mass 200kg from rest to a top speed of 2m/s (acceleration 1m/s2) and the force needed to maintain that top speed . I am not sure how to go about this, do i just consider rolling resistance and take that as 0.01...does static friction come in somewhere?

thanks!
 
Last edited:
Engineering news on Phys.org
Simple F=ma. If you want to account for friction, I don't know, .01 sounds like a good number.

I wouldn't worry about static friction. The force needed to accelerate as fast as you want is MUCH greater than the static friction, and the static friction can only hold you back before you even start accelerating...
 

Similar threads

Vehicle cornering behavior and Ackermann geometry
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Torque to force conversion (from a motor)
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Automotive Need help calculating load torque and acceleration torque of a vehicle
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
Jackhammer on Vehicle Suspension, Unsprung Mass, Tire patch load
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Automotive Vehicle Parking Brake Test on a Slope [How Convert to a Flat Ground test?]
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
High School Does Pushing a Ship from a Ramp Affect Its Movement?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Calculating ideal wheel radius for submersible vehicle
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Calculating top speed in each gear given the gear ratios and
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
21K
Force and Torque Calculation and Observation
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Engineering Applying Physics to Vehicle Dynamics: Do Wheel Number Matter?
  • · Replies 102 ·
4
Replies
102
Views
7K