Is the relationship between car weight and
12-11-2002, 08:18 PM
#1
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Is the relationship between car weight and
acceleration linear? If, we shaved off 500lbs off an S4, which would be 500/3600 = ~14%, would 0-60 and 0-100 times be reduced by 14%. So, a 0-100 time of 15 secs would become 12.9 secs? I know that the relationship between HP and acceleration is definitely not linear but what about weight and acceleration? Has anyone experimented with this to test out how weight savings improved performance? Just being a curious george.
12-11-2002, 08:40 PM
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In an extremely simplified theory it would be (F=ma), but in the real world the aero drag (m)
wouldn't change, and the rolling friction would only be slightly less. Also a lighter car cannot apply as much force to the ground. It wouldn't be accurate to neglect all of those factors. Also, where you save the weight makes a difference reducing rotating mass will have a greater effect than non-rotating.
12-11-2002, 10:37 PM
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for a typical car around 3500 pounds, 1/4 mile ETs drop about .10 second for every 100 pounds.
So if your S4 does the quarter in 14.10 seconds and you dropped 500 pounds, you can expect to be around 13.60.
12-12-2002, 06:28 AM
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In extremely simplified theory,
all else being equal, the et and trap speed are a function of the square root of the mass.
et = square root( 2 * Distance * Mass / Force )
speed = square root( 2 * Distance * Force / Mass )
Of course your comments are correct.
et = square root( 2 * Distance * Mass / Force )
speed = square root( 2 * Distance * Force / Mass )
Of course your comments are correct.
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