Pressure on tyres of a vehicle question - Calculating weight

AI Thread Summary
The pressure in the vehicle's tyres is 280 kPa, with each tyre having a contact area of 0.012 m². The correct conversion of pressure to pascals is 280,000 Pa. Using the formula Force = Pressure x Area, the force exerted by one tyre is calculated to be 3,360 N. To find the total weight of the vehicle, this force must be multiplied by four, confirming the method is correct. The discussion concludes with affirmation of the calculations and method used.
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Homework Statement



The pressure in the tyres of a vehicle is 280 kPa. The contact area of each of the four tyres on the ground is 0.012m^2. Calculate the weight of the vehicle.

Homework Equations



Force = Pressure x Area

The Attempt at a Solution



280 kPa = 2800000 Pa

Force = 2800000 x 0.012 = 33,600N

Am I right in assuming that this is the weight of one tyre, so you have to multiply this by 4 to get the force of the whole vehicle on the ground??

I think I've gone completely wrong here so would be grateful for some help!

Thanks :-)
 
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Molly1235 said:

Homework Statement



The pressure in the tyres of a vehicle is 280 kPa. The contact area of each of the four tyres on the ground is 0.012m^2. Calculate the weight of the vehicle.

Homework Equations



Force = Pressure x Area

The Attempt at a Solution



280 kPa = 2800000 Pa

Force = 2800000 x 0.012 = 33,600N

Am I right in assuming that this is the weight of one tyre, so you have to multiply this by 4 to get the force of the whole vehicle on the ground??

I think I've gone completely wrong here so would be grateful for some help!

Thanks :-)

Double check your conversion of 280 kPa to Pa.
 
SteamKing said:
Double check your conversion of 280 kPa to Pa.

Oops - wouldn't it be 280,000 Pa?
 
Molly1235 said:
Am I right in assuming that this is the weight of one tyre, so you have to multiply this by 4 to get the force of the whole vehicle on the ground??

Yep!

Molly1235 said:
Oops - wouldn't it be 280,000 Pa?

That looks better! :smile:
 
I like Serena said:
Yep!



That looks better! :smile:

So my method was correct??
 
Molly1235 said:
So my method was correct??

Yes.
 
I like Serena said:
Yes.

Yay! Thank you very much!
 
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