Jogging bicycling or driving, most energy efficient?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Chaos' lil bro Order
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 3K views
Chaos' lil bro Order
Messages
682
Reaction score
2
I was wondering what the most efficient way to traveling a mile is between a bicycle, a jogger and a car. The mile is a flat asphalt surface, straight and the weather is a non issue. The car gets 20km/Liter let's say. So the bicycler, jogger and car are lined up at the start and each accelerates to an even 15km/hour, they keep pace with each other the whole time and finish at the same time. On an energy unit basis expressed in joules which mode of transportation is the most energy efficient?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
My bet is bike. I seem to remember that combustion engine has much lower efficiency then biological ones, and bikers burn less kalories per mile than joggers do.
 
The bike is most efficient. It has much less mass and wind resistance than the car, and more work can be used for propulsion than jogging, since the jogger has to use muscle energy to support his/her weight and uses arms for balance.