How Is the Fuel Level Angle Determined in a Turning Vehicle?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the angle between the horizontal and the fuel level line inside a vehicle's tank while the vehicle is turning, specifically in a roundabout. The context includes considerations of centrifugal force and the effects of vehicle speed and turn radius on the fuel's displacement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore how to calculate the angle A based on vehicle speed and turn radius, questioning the influence of tank fill level and other variables. There is also a discussion on the relationship between centripetal acceleration and the angle of the fuel level.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing their thoughts on the calculations involved. Some have proposed a formula for angle A, while others are questioning its complexity and validity. There is no explicit consensus, but guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between angular velocity, curve radius, and gravitational effects.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering various scenarios, including straight-line acceleration and the implications of different fuel tank fill levels on the angle determination. The discussion acknowledges the assumptions made regarding the uniformity of the fuel's surface and the effects of gravity.

beginner49
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I do not know how to solve this problem. I need some help.

How would we find out A, the angle between the horizontal and the fuel level line inside the tank of a car?.

The car speed does not change, let´s say 60 km/hr, but we are driving in a roundabout. So, the fuel inside the tank will be displaced to the right due to the centrifugal force (in England it will go to the left). Let's imagine that car body is horizontal and not affected by the curve. (see attached pic).

We know the car speed and the radius of the car turn. Can we determine angle A?. Will it depend on how much the tank is filled ? any other variable ?

Thank you very much in advance and Merry Christmas.
 

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Can you solve the problem if the car moves in a straight line, but with acceleration?
It is the same in the roundabout, just the direction of the acceleration is different (you can assume that the whole fuel tank has nearly the same distance to the curve center - otherwise the surface would be a bit curved). Can you calculate the acceleration of the car in a roundabout?
 
Hello mfp and thanks for replying,

Yes, I can solve the acceleration of the car in the roundabout as a function of angular velocity and curve radius but I wonder how the liquid is displaced.

I assumed that in the case of having an centripetal acceleration same as the gravity the fuel level and the horizontal angle will be 45 degrees. But this is not the case and that is why I am asking for way of determining that angle as a function of, angular velocity and curve radius.

Thank you.
 
.
I happen this: A= arctan (ω2*r/g)

being ω the car angular velocity
r the curve radius
and g 9.8 m/s2


but it looks too simple to be true.

.
 
Last edited:
Why do you expect something more complicated? ;)
It is right.
 

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