What's the top speed on your car?

[jimberg]

Originally posted by elma22:
In reply to Jimberg, gravity puls every object down at the same speed, NO EXEPTIONS!!!!!!!!

Everything falls at the same rate of acceleration (approximately 10 meters per second per second). Objects will, however, reach a terminal velocity because of drag. If you add mass to the object without altering it's aerodynamic properties, its terminal velocity will rise because your creating more force.

[quote]
Secondly mass has so much to do with top speed, it is not even funny.

We just proved it doesn't with the formula Force = Mass x Acceleration.

If the amount of force the engine puts out remains constant and only the mass of the car changes, you can see that only acceleration will go up or down to make the formula work.

My rig is capable of 90 miles per hour top speed when loaded with 10 000 pounds. When I got 30 000 lb on the back of my trailer, my top speed is only 80 miles.

This is more because of the friction caused by the load on your wheel bearings, axles, and such. That frictional constant is simply multiplied by the velocity of your vehicle. Aerodynamic drag is multiplied by square of your velocity.

So now I guess we can say that mass plays a very small part of top speed.

With a 300% increase in the payload of your trailer you are claiming an 11% drop in top speed. With a 15% increase in the weight of your car, you're claiming a 3.6% drop in top speed. This doesn't seem to add up.



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351W 89 Mustang GT Convertible