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Jolly Green Tractor
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I am working on a model of a solar powered drag race.
The race: 250 meters, no incline, initial velocity = 0.
Classical physics gives us the following equations (ignores aero and rolling drag and wheel rotation):
Velocity as a function of time V = (2Pt/M)^.5
P = power, M = mass
Distance as a function of time d = (2/3)((2P/M)^.5)t^(1.5)
Time to travel x distance t = ((1.5d)^(2/3))(M/2P)^1/3
But of course we do lose power to aerodynamic drag forces
Pa = .5rCdAV^3 (r = air density, Cd = aero drag coef., A = frontal area)
and rolling drag at the wheels
Pr = CrMV (Cr = rolling drag coef.)
and wheel rotation
Pw = FwV^3 (Fw = wheel rotational factor)
So if our inertial power equals our power in, Pi (from the solar panel) minus our power lost to friction (aero, rolling, wheel rotation), then our velocity equation becomes:
V = (2((Pi-(.5rCdAV^3)-(CrMV)-(FwV^3))t)/M)^.5
I need help solving this equation. I have approximated the solution by chopping the race up into small pieces and solving iteratively, but I would rather do it right.
The race: 250 meters, no incline, initial velocity = 0.
Classical physics gives us the following equations (ignores aero and rolling drag and wheel rotation):
Velocity as a function of time V = (2Pt/M)^.5
P = power, M = mass
Distance as a function of time d = (2/3)((2P/M)^.5)t^(1.5)
Time to travel x distance t = ((1.5d)^(2/3))(M/2P)^1/3
But of course we do lose power to aerodynamic drag forces
Pa = .5rCdAV^3 (r = air density, Cd = aero drag coef., A = frontal area)
and rolling drag at the wheels
Pr = CrMV (Cr = rolling drag coef.)
and wheel rotation
Pw = FwV^3 (Fw = wheel rotational factor)
So if our inertial power equals our power in, Pi (from the solar panel) minus our power lost to friction (aero, rolling, wheel rotation), then our velocity equation becomes:
V = (2((Pi-(.5rCdAV^3)-(CrMV)-(FwV^3))t)/M)^.5
I need help solving this equation. I have approximated the solution by chopping the race up into small pieces and solving iteratively, but I would rather do it right.
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