View Single Post
Old 07-21-2001, 08:55 AM   #10
MiracleMax
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Hayes, Va, USA
Posts: 798
Post

Quote:
Originally posted by dinomite:
and yours is a 94-95, a little heavier, so it'd probably be a little lower.
Weight actually doesn't have anything to do with the top speed of a vehicle. Drag has everything to do with it. Frontal area is a biggie and afterwards how well turbulence is managed (minimizing aerodynamic drag) probably has the biggest effect.

Now run a car in a defined amount of space (ie; a drag strip) and thats where weight has an effect and aerodynamics come into play. Weight initially effects the rate at which the vehicle accelerates, then as aerodynamic forces build agaisnt the vehicle and create excessive drag also effecting acceleration.

Run two cars in an open space without any predetermined end to where they must accelerate with the same amount of power, but with differing aerodynamics and weight (the lighter car with poor areodynamics, and the heavier car with better aerodynamics) and eventually the car with better aerodynamics will catch up and pass the other car.

[This message has been edited by MiracleMax (edited 07-21-2001).]
MiracleMax is offline   Reply With Quote