How can I tell if a given car can go from 0 to x MPH over a distance of d feet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AxiomOfChoice
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Car
AI Thread Summary
To determine if a 2000 VW Golf can accelerate from 0 to a specific speed over a set distance, key information needed includes the time it takes to reach 0-60 mph, average acceleration, and the distance covered in that time. Additionally, understanding the force applied by the tires, engine torque, drivetrain ratio, and tire diameter is crucial. Assumptions about constant acceleration may not be accurate due to variables like grip, gearing, and weight. Calculating these factors will help assess if the car can meet the distance requirement. Accurate predictions require comprehensive data on the vehicle's performance characteristics.
AxiomOfChoice
Messages
531
Reaction score
1
What information do I need about the car to make this determination?

(Specifically, I'm talking about a 2000 VW Golf.)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
AxiomOfChoice said:
What information do I need about the car to make this determination?

(Specifically, I'm talking about a 2000 VW Golf.)
You need to know how long it takes for the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph. This is kind of a standard for comparing acceleration of cars.

That will enable you to determine the approximate average acceleration (there is some inaccuracy because the car may not accelerate evenly). From that you can determine the time it would take to reach x MPH. From that you can determine the distance covered in that time. Then you can compare it to the distance d.

AM
 
Andrew Mason said:
You need to know how long it takes for the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph. This is kind of a standard for comparing acceleration of cars.

That will enable you to determine the approximate average acceleration (there is some inaccuracy because the car may not accelerate evenly). From that you can determine the time it would take to reach x MPH. From that you can determine the distance covered in that time. Then you can compare it to the distance d.

AM

Ok, thanks. This was certainly my first instinct, but I wanted a second opinion. I managed to complete the calculation. Thanks again for your help!
 
You need to know the force applied by the tires to the road. To do that, you need to know the engine torque, the drivetrain ratio (which will change if you shift gears on your way to X mph), the tire diameter. You need to know something about the tires (or assume something, like 'no slip').

I think the assumption of constant acceleration is not to accurate.
 
It's difficult to accurately predict based on just simple numbers. You'd need to know the amount of grip, which affects the launch, as well as the gearing, shift times, torque curve of the engine, weight of car, ...
 
Well I think all you need to know is when it was dropped ;-)

Fish
 

Thread 'Is calling fictitious forces "not real" just about terminology?'

Hi there, im studying nanoscience at the university in Basel. Today I looked at the topic of intertial and non-inertial reference frames and the existence of fictitious forces. I understand that you call forces real in physics if they appear in interplay. Meaning that a force is real when there is the "actio" partner to the "reactio" partner. If this condition is not satisfied the force is not real. I also understand that if you specifically look at non-inertial reference frames you can...
View full post »

Thread 'Inclined treadmills and Galilean Invariance'

This has been discussed many times on PF, and will likely come up again, so the video might come handy. Previous threads: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-a-treadmill-incline-just-a-marketing-gimmick.937725/ https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/work-done-running-on-an-inclined-treadmill.927825/ https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-do-we-calculate-the-energy-we-used-to-do-something.1052162/
View full post »

Thread 'Derivation of Hamilton's Principle: Questions'

I have recently been really interested in the derivation of Hamiltons Principle. On my research I found that with the term ##m \cdot \frac{d}{dt} (\frac{dr}{dt} \cdot \delta r) = 0## (1) one may derivate ##\delta \int (T - V) dt = 0## (2). The derivation itself I understood quiet good, but what I don't understand is where the equation (1) came from, because in my research it was just given and not derived from anywhere. Does anybody know where (1) comes from or why from it the...
View full post »

Similar threads

How fast would a car be going to throw a 50lb object 38ft?
Replies
4
Views
1K
Can Weight Transfer Cause a Car to Stay in a Stuck Position?
Replies
14
Views
3K
I Find Best Water Nozzle Type & Pressure for Longest Distance
Replies
32
Views
9K
Deceleration time for studded snow tires
Replies
33
Views
3K
Determine speed needed to cause rollover of car hitting ramp
Replies
4
Views
2K
What factors affect car braking distance?
Replies
7
Views
4K
B Death Rally: an intricate probability problem?
Replies
8
Views
2K
B Applying the distance formula d= v*t + 1/2a*t^2
Replies
5
Views
7K
How Fast Could a Car Ascend a Straightened Mountain Road?
Replies
48
Views
9K
Centripetal Force & Gas Centrifuges
Replies
8
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top