Solve Vehicle Physics Problem: Find Maximum Ground Speed with Headwind

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum ground speed of a vehicle on a mountain at 4400ft elevation, powered by a 400hp engine with a drag coefficient of 0.5 and a frontal area of 20ft². The user successfully computed the maximum speed in still air but encountered difficulties when factoring in a 20mph headwind. The key formula used is Power = drag coefficient * 1/2 * Area * density * velocity³, which requires differentiation to find V(max) under headwind conditions.

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Automotive engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in vehicle performance optimization will benefit from this discussion.

hallo
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Hi,

A vehicle land on a mountain of 4400ft.The Engine delivers 400hp to the wheels and careful streamlining has resulted in a drag coefficient of 0.5,based on a 20ft^2 frontal area.Compute the maximum ground speed of the car in i)still air and ii)with a 20mph head wind

for part i)I have solve using coefficient power and drag coefficient formulas.However the part ii), I am haveing problem.

Pls help.
thanx
 
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If one solve part i, then part ii should be solvable.

With a head wind, the maximum vehicle velocity is reduced.

How does one solve for Vmax?

If one sets up an equation in V, then with a headwind try V+Vhead, where Vhead is the headwind velocity.
 
I have solve till Velocity but not V(max). my eqn is
Power= drag coeff * 1/2 * Area * density* velocity^3

to find V(max),what should I set to zero and then differentiate?? ??
 

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