What is the Maximum Speed of a Porsche 944 Turbo at Full Power?

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SUMMARY

The maximum speed of a Porsche 944 Turbo at full power is calculated using its effective power output and the forces acting on it. With a rated engine power of 217 hp, 70% of this power translates to approximately 113,317.4 Watts at the wheels after accounting for drivetrain losses. The total mass of the vehicle is 1,530 kg, with two-thirds of this weight on the drive wheels, resulting in a maximum speed of 11.34 m/s when considering the friction force. This speed appears low for a sports car, indicating that additional forces such as aerodynamic drag need to be factored into the calculations for a more accurate assessment.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly force and power equations.
  • Familiarity with vehicle dynamics and weight distribution.
  • Knowledge of rolling friction coefficients and their application in calculations.
  • Ability to perform unit conversions, specifically between horsepower and Watts.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research aerodynamic drag calculations for vehicles to understand its impact on maximum speed.
  • Learn about the effects of weight distribution on traction and acceleration in sports cars.
  • Explore advanced vehicle dynamics simulations to model performance under various conditions.
  • Investigate the relationship between power output and speed in different vehicle types.
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Automotive engineers, physics students, and car enthusiasts interested in understanding the performance characteristics of sports cars like the Porsche 944 Turbo.

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Homework Statement



A Porsche 944 Turbo has a rated engine power of 217 hp. 30% of the power is lost in the drive train, and 70% reaches the wheels. The total mass of the car and driver is 1530 kg, and two-thirds of the weight is over the drive wheels. What is the speed of the Porsche at maximum power output?

Homework Equations


P=FV


The Attempt at a Solution


I calculated the maximum power by taking 70% of 217 and multiplying by 746W/hp = 113317.4W. I don't know where to go from here, since I'm not sure how to obtain a value for F, the forces doing work on the Porsche at maximum velocity. It's not simply rolling friction, since plugging in (2/3)(1530)(9.8)(.02) (.02 is the value of rolling friction listed in the text) for F yields a maximum speed of 566.8 m/s... I would think that there would also be a drag force doing work at maximum velocity, but the dimensions of a cross section of the car are not given. Any ideas on how to go about finding vmax?
 
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Well, I found the correct answer...but it doesn't make any sense to me. Using the friction force that accelerates the car as F (2/3)(1530)(9.8)=9996N, I found v to be 11.34m/s. That seems awfully slow for a sports car and for a car at maximum velocity I didn't think that static friction would be doing work.
 

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