The Amount of Joules generated by a car wheel travelling at 30mph

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    Car Joules Wheel
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the amount of Joules associated with the kinetic energy of a car wheel traveling at 30 mph. Participants explore the theoretical aspects of energy transformation and the specific calculations involved, including considerations of mass and speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the calculation needed to determine the Joules generated by a car wheel at 30 mph.
  • Another participant suggests using the kinetic energy formula E = 1/2 mv², noting the known mass and speed of the car.
  • A different participant questions the premise of the original inquiry, stating that energy cannot be created and must be transformed between systems.
  • One participant calculates the kinetic energy of a car with a mass of 500 kg traveling at 30 mph, arriving at approximately 44965.07 Joules.
  • Another participant challenges how this calculation addresses the original question regarding energy "created by an average size car wheel."
  • A participant points out the need to consider the weight of the wheel, suggesting an average wheel weight of 15 kg.
  • Another participant notes that the kinetic energy of the tire is a small fraction of the total kinetic energy of the car, emphasizing the mass distribution's impact on energy calculations.
  • A participant calculates the kinetic energy of the wheel alone, using a mass of 15 kg, yielding approximately 1348.95 Joules.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the concept of energy creation versus transformation, and there is no consensus on how to interpret the original question regarding the energy associated with the car wheel specifically. Multiple competing perspectives on the calculations and their implications are present.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions, such as the mass of the car and wheel, and the speed conversion from miles per hour to meters per second. The discussion also highlights the dependence on the mass distribution of the wheel for kinetic energy calculations.

Redvers
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I am interested to know the amount of Joules created by an average size car wheel traveling at 30mph. Please could you let me know the calculation needed to work this out?

Thank you,
 
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why not use E = 1/2 m v^2 to get it? You know the mass of the car and you know its speed.
 
Redvers said:
I am interested to know the amount of Joules created by an average size car wheel traveling at 30mph. Please could you let me know the calculation needed to work this out?

Thank you,
What makes you think that the car wheel is creating any amount of Joules?
What process do you have in mind? There is no known process for energy creation.
The energy may be transferred between systems and transformed from one form to another.
 
Energy can't be created nor destroyed however it can be transformed from one form to a another. Let's say the mass of the car was 500 kg and the speed is 30 miles per hour which is 13.4112 meters per second so KE=1/2 mv-squared =1/2*500*13.4112 meters per second squared= 44965.07136 joules
 
Karimspencer said:
Energy can't be created nor destroyed however it can be transformed from one form to a another. Let's say the mass of the car was 500 kg and the speed is 30 miles per hour which is 13.4112 meters per second so KE=1/2 mv-squared =1/2*500*13.4112 meters per second squared= 44965.07136 joules

How would this answers the OP question about the energy "created by an average size car wheel"?
 
Thank you but wouldn't you need to consider the weight of the alloy and tyre? The average car wheel weighs 15kg.
 
I thought he said car, my bad.
 
The kinetic energy of the tire is a small fraction of the kinetic energy of the car, as the tire's mass is usually a small fraction of the total car mass.
As the tires are rotating, their kinetic energy per mass is larger, the value depends on the internal mass distribution: A solid disk would have 50% more kinetic energy, a circle (and nothing inside) would have 100% more. This assume that the tires are rolling and not slipping ;).
 
In case of the wheel , let's say the mass is 15 kg
so the K.E = 1/2*15*13.4112 meters per second squared=1348.9521408 J
 

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